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Jenna Bush Hager is no stranger to being the focus of public speculation. As the daughter of a former U.S. President and granddaughter of another, she’s often found herself in the limelight, especially during her college years. However, it’s her marriage to her husband, Henry Chase Hager, that has recently stirred up gossip — and not always for positive reasons.
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The couple’s wedding was a private affair held at the expansive ranch of then-President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in Crawford, Texas. “Our little girl, Jenna, married a really good guy, Henry Hager,” President Bush announced proudly to the press before boarding Air Force One, according to NBC News. “The wedding was spectacular. It’s just — it’s all we could have hoped for.” Nevertheless, this fairy tale beginning has been overshadowed by persistent rumors of divorce.
Did Jenna and Henry’s marriage face trouble from the start? The narrative suggests a spontaneous beginning, with Jenna proposing to Henry after only a few months of dating. “After three months of dating — I might’ve had a Christmas cocktail — and we were dancing, and I said, ‘This is it, I know it, let’s just get married, what are we waiting for?’” Jenna recounted on the “Today” show in February 2020. Henry, however, responded cautiously, saying, “I’m crazy about you, but you’re young,” though Jenna was 22 at the time. She clarified that he didn’t outright refuse, but rather smiled and laughed at her proposal.
Despite getting engaged five years later, Jenna’s candid revelation sparked rumors about the durability of their relationship. Her comments on “Today with Jenna and Hoda” added fuel to the fire. “I had kind of — in a dramatic fashion that you may or may not recognize — said, ‘Listen, if you don’t want me to move to Latin America, we need to get engaged,’” she recounted, admitting that it was a “manipulative ultimatum” (via People).
Jenna Bush Hager appears to have pushed to get engaged
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Further fueling the rumor mill was Henry Chase Hager’s admission that he essentially ghosted Jenna after their initial meeting. On December 31, 2025, during an appearance on “Today With Jenna & Friends,” Henry confessed to not reaching out to Jenna for three weeks after their first encounter, in an attempt to “play it cool.” He explained, “After our first date, there was a lot going on. Work was busy, and I just sort of … to your point, you’ve got to keep the interest there. For about three weeks, I didn’t contact you” (via OK! magazine).
While the couple did go on to get engaged five years later, Jenna’s on-air admission alone was enough to fuel some pretty gnarly rumors that the couple’s union might not go the distance after all. And Jenna’s commentary during an episode of “Today with Jenna and Hoda” didn’t exactly help all of the speculation. “I had kind of — in a dramatic fashion that you may or may not recognize — said, ‘Listen, if you don’t want me to move to Latin America, we need to get engaged,’” (via People) she recalled, acknowledging behavior “was kind of like a manipulative ultimatum.” Ruh-roh.
Did Henry Chase Hager ghost Jenna Bush Hager after meeting her?
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In yet another on-air admission that got rumors swirling, Henry Chase Hager revealed that he basically ghosted Jenna Bush Hager after first meeting her. On December 31, 2025, Henry appeared on “Today With Jenna & Friends,” and proceeded to open his mouth and insert his foot. While discussing the beginning of their courtship and relationship trajectory, Henry let it slip that he deliberately did not contact Jenna for a whopping three whole weeks after meeting her for the first time — supposedly all in an effort to “play it cool.” In Henry’s own words, “After our first date, there was a lot going on. Work was busy, and I just sort of … to your point, you’ve got to keep the interest there. For about three weeks, I didn’t contact you “(via OK! magazine).
As one can imagine, viewers at home were less than charmed by Henry’s lackadaisical indifference upon meeting his future wife. Suffice to say, there are SO many weird things about Jenna’s marriage. So. Many.
No ring, no problem?!
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Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego Jenna Bush Hager’s wedding ring?! In February 2025, divorce rumors began swirling when eagle-eyed “Today With Jenna & Friends” viewers noticed the famous co-host wasn’t wearing her wedding ring. “HOPEFULLY DIVORCE IS ON THE HORIZON FOR YOU!!!!!” one Instagram user wrote in the comments section underneath one of Jenna’s posts where she was holding up a book and showing off a very naked left ring finger.
Eventually, however, it appeared Jenna had grown tired of all the divorce speculation when she seized the opportunity to clear up the matter once and for all during a segment on the September 25 episode of “Today with Hoda and Jenna,” called “Social Dilemmas.” While walking a caller through a precarious situation involving a boyfriend who planned to propose to her with a family heirloom ring she didn’t like, Jenna casually brought up her own notably missing-in-action family heirloom engagement ring. “I’m not wearing my ring, but don’t worry … we’re still happy together, but I broke my finger,” she noted (via People). Duly noted, Jenna. Duly noted.
