Jenna Bush Hager is taking a heartfelt trip back to her roots. 

The Today show co-host, 42, recently returned to her hometown of Austin, Texas, alongside her colleague and friend Hoda Kotb, 60. 

Their journey was filled with nostalgia, laughter, and even a few unexpected encounters. 

During the October 24 episode of Today, the duo reflected on their time retracing Bush Hager’s childhood memories, including surprise run-ins with familiar faces from her past.

A Trip Full of Surprises

While reminiscing about her younger years, Bush Hager couldn’t help but laugh about the number of ex-boyfriends she and Kotb encountered during their visit. 

Kotb playfully noted that it seemed like “everywhere we went, we ran into one of Jenna’s exes.”

“Being with Jenna in Austin is incredible,” Kotb said. “First of all, it feels like a tiny town even though it’s the 11th biggest city… But to turn any corner and see Jenna’s seventh-grade date, her prom date showed up at Don’s the other night.”

Bush Hager, who has been married to Henry Chase Hager since 2008, found humor in the situation. “It sounds like I still have a lot of exes that live in Texas, and I might,” she joked, referencing the famous George Strait song. “Austin was my home from middle school through college. I could not leave, I had to go to UT.”

Reflecting on her deep connection to her home state, she added, “My mom even said the other day, ‘Why did you apply to all those schools? You were always going to Texas.’ I have lived out of Texas longer than I’ve lived in it, but it’s still in every bone in my body. I love it so much.”

Reuniting with Old Friends

During the trip, Bush Hager had the chance to reconnect with her closest childhood friends, who made sure to show up in full force.

“I think what’s so cool about Jenna is her besties are here, and also they show up,” Kotb shared. A photo of Bush Hager surrounded by her high school friends flashed on the screen, capturing the heartwarming reunion. “This was us at the bar the other night. All these high school friends showed up.”

The trip wasn’t just about seeing old friends—it was also about revisiting the places that played a pivotal role in her formative years.

An Emotional Visit to Austin High School

One of the most touching moments of their visit was returning to Austin High School, where Bush Hager was a student from 1996 to 2000 while her father, George W. Bush, served as Governor of Texas.

“Jenna was crying—it was the most beautiful thing to be home,” Kotb shared.

Bush Hager, who is known for her emotional reactions on the show, acknowledged that returning to her high school brought back a flood of memories. “If you watch the show, I know you’re shocked I was crying,” she quipped.

Encouraging others to take a similar journey, she added, “If any of you have not gone back to your high school, go back. There was something about entering this gym where we spent all of our Friday pep rallies for Texas football, which is such a thing. To be back there in a place that shaped me so much was so weirdly emotional, I couldn’t stand it.”

Kotb also revealed that they took the time to meet some of Bush Hager’s former teachers. With a laugh, Bush Hager gave them a lighthearted apology, saying, “I apologize for my behavior.”

Jenna’s Journey from Texas to Television

Bush Hager’s Texas roots run deep. She moved to Austin in 1994 when her father was elected Governor and remained there until she graduated from high school in 2000. While her family relocated to Washington, D.C., following her father’s presidential win, she chose to stay in Texas, earning her English degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

After college, she spent several years in Washington, D.C., and Maryland working as a teacher before shifting gears into writing and television. In 2019, she officially joined Today as a co-host, stepping into the role previously held by Kathie Lee Gifford.

Reflecting on her transition to television, she told PEOPLE at the time, “It feels organic, and it feels right, which I don’t know if I would do it if it didn’t. They probably wouldn’t have asked me to do it if it didn’t. But it just feels like the right time for me.”

A Heartwarming Homecoming

For Bush Hager, this trip to Austin was more than just a visit—it was a chance to reconnect with the people and places that shaped her into who she is today. Whether it was reminiscing about her high school days, running into old flames, or laughing with lifelong friends, it was clear that Texas will always hold a special place in her heart.

As she and Kotb wrapped up their journey, it was evident that no matter where life takes her, home will always be where the heart is—and for Jenna Bush Hager, that heart beats strong for Texas.

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