Sheinelle Jones Reveals Surprising Family Connection with Jenna Bush Hager

The 'Today' co-hosts discover their fathers were connected long before they joined the show.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Sheinelle Jones and Jenna Bush Hager, co-hosts of the 'Today' show, recently revealed that their fathers had a surprising connection long before the two women became colleagues. Jones shared that Bush Hager's father, former President George W. Bush, had nominated Jones' father, C. Darnell Jones II, to become a federal judge.

Why it matters

The revelation of this family connection between the two 'Today' co-hosts adds an interesting personal element to their professional relationship. It highlights how the world can sometimes be 'a weird and wonderful place,' as Bush Hager described it, with unexpected connections between people.

The details

Jones shared the fun fact while discussing her new magazine profile on the show. Bush Hager's father served as the President of the United States from 2001 to 2009, and Jones' father was sworn in as a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 2008 after being nominated by Bush. Jones recalled that when she got her first job at Good Day Philadelphia, she didn't initially reveal her father's status as a federal judge, wanting to earn the job on her own merits.

  • Jones' father, C. Darnell Jones II, was sworn in as a federal judge in 2008.
  • Jones' father celebrated his retirement in November 2022, the same week as his birthday.

The players

Jenna Bush Hager

Co-host of the 'Today' show and daughter of former President George W. Bush.

Sheinelle Jones

Co-host of the 'Today' show and daughter of C. Darnell Jones II, a federal judge.

George W. Bush

Former President of the United States, who nominated Sheinelle Jones' father to become a federal judge.

C. Darnell Jones II

Federal judge, father of Sheinelle Jones, who was nominated to the bench by George W. Bush.

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What they’re saying

“Her father [former president George W. Bush] nominated my father [C. Darnell Jones II] to the federal bench. So, my father's a federal judge. He is — can you say retired when you're a federal judge? I don't know.”

— Sheinelle Jones, Co-host, 'Today' (Today With Jenna & Sheinelle)

“Who could ever predict [that]? I think the world is a weird and wonderful place.”

— Jenna Bush Hager, Co-host, 'Today' (Today With Jenna & Sheinelle)

The takeaway

The surprising family connection between Sheinelle Jones and Jenna Bush Hager, two co-hosts of the 'Today' show, demonstrates how unexpected personal ties can emerge, even in the most public of careers. This revelation adds a unique human element to their professional relationship and highlights the serendipitous nature of life.