Jenna Bush Hager has revealed that she asked her husband Henry Hager to marry her after just three months of dating — and he turned her down because she was too young.
The 38-year-old Today host was chatting with her co-host Hoda Kotb on the fourth hour of the morning show when she admitted that she was in her early 20s and head over heels in love with Henry when she suggested they get hitched.
‘I asked Henry to marry me,’ she said, shocking Hoda, who was surprised that she had never heard the story before.
Head over heels! Jenna Bush Hager (right) revealed on the Today show on Friday morning that she had asked her husband to marry her after just three months of dating
Look of love: The former first daughter met Henry when he was working on her father’s 2004 presidential reelection campaign, and she almost instantly knew he was the one
‘What? You did?’ Hoda asked. ‘How did I not know that?’
‘Because he said no, and then he asked me five years later,’ Jenna said with a laugh.
Jenna met Henry when he was working on her father’s 2004 presidential reelection campaign, and she almost instantly knew he was the one.
‘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?”‘ she recalled.
Looking back: Jenna said she ‘might’ve had a Christmas cocktail’ when she suggested that they get hitched, but Henry turned her down because she was only in her early 20s
Memories: Henry ended up popping the question in 2007, and they said ‘I do’ the next year at the Bush family’s estate in Crawford, Texas
‘My sister was like, “Whoa, whoa,’ she said of her twin Barbara Bush’s reaction.
Hoda couldn’t resist asking how Henry reacted to her impromptu proposal.
‘He smiled, and he was like, “I’m crazy about you, but you’re young,”‘ she said.
Jenna’s eagerness to get married at a young age may have been influenced by her parents’ romantic love story.
George W. and Laura Bush wed on November 5, 1977, three months after they met on a blind date, and 42 years later, they seem to be more in love than ever.
Henry ended up proposing to Jenna in 2007, and his mother, Maggie, told the Washington Post that he had asked President Bush for permission to marry his daughter.
Party of five: Henry and Jenna have daughters, Mila and Poppy, and a baby boy, Hal, who was born in August
So sweet: Henry and their eldest daughters surprised Jenna with flowers earlier this month when she and Hoda debuted their new live show
The couple said ‘I do’ in May 2008 at the Bush family’s estate in Crawford, Texas.
Jenna and Henry welcomed their daughter Mila, now six, five years later. They also have a four-year-old daughter, Poppy, and a son, Hal, who was born in August.
Henry and their eldest daughters surprised Jenna with flowers earlier this month when she and Hoda debuted their new live show.
At the start of the segment, Jenna paid tribute to husband while he said in the audience.
‘Henry, you came, too, and you know what? My mom calls Henry the saint, which that sort of implies that I’m not easy to be married to, but Hank, I love ya,’ she said. ‘So thanks for coming.’