“VIEWERS WEREN’T EXPECTING THIS LITTLE SURPRISE…” Today viewers got an unexpected treat when Jenna Bush Hager’s 10-year-old daughter, Poppy, made a rare on-air appearance — and her sweet cameo quickly stole the spotlight. The heartwarming family moment comes after Jenna recently shared funny stories about Poppy behind the scenes, making fans even more delighted to see her step in front of the cameras.

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Jenna Bush Hager’s Daughter Poppy Makes Rare TV Appearance on ‘Today’

Sheinelle Jones, Jenna Bush Hager, and Poppy Hager on the June 25, 2026, episode of NBC's 'Today With Jenna & Sheinelle.'
NBC

What To Know

  • Jenna Bush Hager’s 10-year-old daughter, Poppy, made a rare on-air appearance on Today With Jenna & Sheinelle.
  • Poppy’s visit comes shortly after Bush Hager shared new family photos on Instagram.
  • Bush Hager previously joked that Poppy wished Sheinelle Jones were her mom after Jones danced on stage with Zara Larsson on Today.

A special guest joined Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones at the end of Today With Jenna & Sheinelle‘s latest episode.

While bidding farewell to viewers on Thursday, June 25, the co-hosts were joined by Bush Hager’s 10-year-old daughter, Poppy. “Well, look who we have here visiting!” Jones remarked. While hugging her daughter, Bush Hager stated, “Yeah! Poppy Louise Hager stopped in. The queen just did an impersonation.”

Poppy waved at the camera and stood by her mother’s side as Bush Hager and Jones went on to celebrate one of the show’s staffers. “We have to say thank you to one of our rockstar, beloved producer, Kerri Fraser,” Jones gushed. Bush Hager added, “22 years at NBC. Do you know that Kerri and I went to Haiti together after the earthquake?”

While off-camera, Poppy seemed to slip away from her mom’s side. “Bye, Pops,” Bush Hager stated before continuing to celebrate their colleague’s retirement. “We love her so much. Today is her last day. We love you. We will miss you,” she said.

Poppy is the second-oldest of Bush Hager’s three children, along with Mila and Hal, whom she shares with her husband, Henry Hager. Poppy’s surprise Today appearance comes one day after Bush Hager shared several new family photos via Instagram.

Kerri Fraser, Sheinelle Jones, Jenna Bush Hager, and Poppy Hager on the June 25, 2206, episode of NBC's 'Today With Jenna & Sheinelle.'

NBC

“Summer solstice,” Bush Hager captioned the Wednesday, June 24, upload, which featured snaps from her family’s weekend activities, which included hiking, painting, and spending time by the water.

Like many of her Today colleagues, Bush Hager’s children have only made a handful of appearances on the NBC morning show over the years. However, she frequently shares tidbits about her family’s daily lives with fans on the series.

During the show’s May 11 episode, Bush Hager shared that several of the Today hosts’ kids were among the crowd at 30 Rockefeller Plaza for Zara Larsson’s Today concert the week prior. During the concert, Jones joined the pop star on stage to perform the viral “Lush Life” dance break.

As the show played a clip of Jones’ performance, Bush Hager joked, “That’s my daughter Poppy in the background, wishing Sheinelle was her mom. If we could zoom in close to Poppy’s face, Poppy’s like, ‘If only Sheinelle was my mother.’” Jones, for her part, said she could see Poppy in the crowd “doing all the moves.”

Bush Hager noted that her kids were upset she wasn’t the one to dance with Larsson on stage. “They all were like, ‘Why couldn’t you be there, Mom? Why couldn’t you dance with Zara Larsson?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, you’ll have to ask your grandparents who gave me this DNA. You’ll have to ask God.’”

Today With Jenna & Sheinelle, Weekdays, 10 am, NBC