Who Will Replace Kathie Lee Gifford On ‘Today’?

Kathie Lee Gifford officially has a replacement for when she steps down from the fourth hour of “Today” later this year, and it will be a familiar face stepping in.

Jenna Bush Hager will replace the veteran TV host. Hager joins longtime fourth hour host Hoda Kotb. The announcement was made Tuesday morning on the NBC show.

Hager has been in the “Today” family since joining as a correspondent and contributor in 2009. She has even occasionally filled in for Gifford and Kotb during their absences.

“It feels humbling and I can’t believe it. My dad just wrote me three words, which made me weep: ‘Very proud dad,’” Hager said during the live broadcast. Her father is former President George W. Bush. “Which I’m like, what is there to be proud about? I’m just drinking wine in the morning!”

She told Gifford that she was thrilled to be following in her footsteps. “You are beloved here in so many ways, and if I can use some of your grace and have a half of what you’ve done, my life will be a very happy one,” Hager said as she held back tears.

On Dec. 11, Gifford revealed that she will step down this spring, on her 11th anniversary of hosting the hour. The veteran, who also spent 15-years co-hosting morning shows with Regis Philbin, said that she originally only planned to stay one year at “Today.”

“It’s an exciting time for me and I’m thrilled about all the projects that are coming up, but it’s also hard because the reason I stayed longer than a year is because I love everybody here so much,” she said on the show in December. “I’ve been in this business for 120 years and never worked with a more beautiful group of people who just give, give, give every day.”

Gifford will leave on April 7. She said her friendship with Kotb will also continue.