Jenna Bush Hager has been welcoming her TODAY with Jenna & Friends co-hosts to 30 Rockefeller Center with a sweet surprise.
In each of their dressing rooms, Jenna has left a bouquet of flowers, a candle and a literary treat.
“One of the things I’ve been leaving for my new friends — the amazing women that are coming to host this show — are books,” Jenna told TODAY.com.
Jenna pulls her choices from Read With Jenna, the book club she’s helmed since 2019.
Below, here are all the books she’s paired with her co-hosts so far.
For Kelsea Ballerini
‘Blue Sisters’ by Coco Mellors
In January 2025, Kelsea Ballerini helped give advice to viewers on situations surrounding female friendships with Jenna Bush-Hager during the segment “Girl Code.” Naturally, Jenna gifted the singer-songwriter with the September 2024 Read With Jenna novel “Blue Sisters” by Coco Mellors, which focuses on sisterhood.
Jenna says this novel is a modern-day “Little Women,” since it follows four sisters. Upon the death of one of the sisters, the remaining three travel back to the New York apartment where they were raised.
For Kimberly Schlapman
‘Black Cake’ by Charmaine Wilkerson
Little Big Town band member Kimberly Schlapman received “Black Cake” by Charmaine Wilkerson. Jenna says she “was on the edge of (her) seat” reading this novel.
The Read With Jenna February 2022 pick begins with a family death. In the aftermath of their loss, two estranged siblings begin to unravel the mystery and dark secrets kept hidden by the older generation. Told from several perspectives, this novel examines the complexity of family dynamics in the possibility of second chances.
For Ciara
‘The Sun Sets in Singapore’ by Kehinde Fadipe
Jenna gifted Ciara “The Sun Sets in Singapore,” a book about women navigating friendship, and how their own life stages (and social stations) impact their bonds.
Kehinde Fadipe is an actor whose experiences living in Singapore inspired the book. In an essay for TODAY.com, she wrote, “Far away from my blood relatives, my friends have become like family. They are women who celebrate my achievements and who care as much about my struggles as their own.”
For Wynonna Judd
‘Valentine’ by Elizabeth Wetmore
Having grown up in southern culture in Kentucky, Jenna gifted this country singer “Valentine” by Elizabeth Wetmore. Jenna says this “wonderful book” has readers “engrossed in the stories of these women.”
The Read With Jenna April 2020 pick is set in Odessa, Texas on the cusp of an oil boom. This novel follows the aftermath of horrific acts of violence against 14-year-old Gloria Ramirez. Having grown up in Midland, Texas, this Wetmore’s experiences give the novel great authenticity when portraying the realities of growing up in West Texas.
For Taraji P. Henson
‘Black Candle Women’ by Diane Marie Brown
Jenna shared that her book she picked for her first guest co-host, actor Taraji P. Henson, is “one of her favorites.”
In it, four generations of magic-practicing Black women protect each other’s secrets while living under a family curse. After a series of twists and turns, they are whisked into a journey of confronting their history and finding answers at last.
For Scarlett Johansson:
‘Nothing To See Here’ by Kevin Wilson
Scarlett Johansson and Jenna Bush Hager have something in common: They’re both twins. Speaking to TODAY.com, Jenna said that’s what made her choose “Nothing to See Here” for Johansson.
Kevin Wilson’s humorous book centers on college friends who come together in adulthood thanks to unbelievable circumstances. Madison writes to her old friend Lillian asking for help with her twins’ unusual situation: They combust when they get angry.
For Eva Longoria:
‘The Great Divide’ by Cristina Henriquez
For Eva Longoria, a powerhouse actor and producer known for elevating Latin American voices in Hollywood, Jenna gifted “The Great Divide,” a sweeping work of historical fiction set in Central America.
Cristina Henríquez’s epic follows people caught up in the construction of the Panama Canal in the early 1900s, including workers, activists, journalists and fishermen. When faced with unimaginable challenges, these families must choose whether or not to hold onto hope.
For Keke Palmer:
‘The Wedding People’ by Alison Espach
“The Wedding People,” according to Jenna, is guaranteed to make anyone “laugh, maybe shed a couple of tears, and just have a lot of fun.”
In Allison Espach’s biting yet heartwarming book, a woman goes to a lavish Rhode Island hotel for what she believes to be her last weekend on Earth. She rethinks her plan after colliding with the wedding party that has also booked the hotel for the weekend.
For Michelle Buteau:
‘Maame’ by Jessica George
Comedian Michelle Buteau knows a thing or two about using comedy to find joy in the complexities of life — which is what made “Maame” the perfect choice for her.
Jessica George’s debut follows 20-something woman named Maddie who has spent most of her life as a primary caregiver to her father who suffers from Parkinson’s disease. When her mom takes over for her, Maddie finally decides to move out of the family home and start living. “Maame” is set apart by George’s vivid and funny narration.
