The Bush family is one of the most prominent and influential dynasties in American history, with four generations of politicians, businessmen, and celebrities. But how are the members of this family related to each other, and who are the lesser-known cousins and relatives? In this article, we will explore the surprising connections between Billy Bush, the television host and radio personality, and Jenna Bush Hager, the author and journalist who co-hosts the fourth hour of NBC’s Today show.
Contents
Who is Billy Bush?
Billy Bush is the son of Jonathan Bush, a banker and brother of former President George H. W. Bush. This makes him a nephew of the 41st president and a cousin of the 43rd president, George W. Bush, as well as former Florida governor Jeb Bush. He is also a first cousin once removed of Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush Hager, and Lauren Bush Lauren, who are the daughters and granddaughter of George W. Bush.
Billy Bush started his career as a radio host in New Hampshire and Washington, D.C., before joining Access Hollywood as a correspondent in 2001. He became a primary anchor of the entertainment news program in 2004 and also hosted The Billy Bush Show, a nationally syndicated talk and music radio show, from 2008 to 2014. He left Access Hollywood in 2016 to join the third hour of Today as a co-host, but was fired later that year after a controversial recording surfaced of him and then-presidential candidate Donald Trump having a lewd conversation in 2005. Since 2019, he has been the host of Extra, a syndicated newsmagazine TV show.
Who is Jenna Bush Hager?
Jenna Bush Hager is the daughter of former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush. She has a twin sister, Barbara Pierce Bush, who is an activist and co-founder of Global Health Corps. Jenna was named after her maternal grandmother, Jenna Welch.
Jenna grew up in Texas and attended Yale University, where she majored in English. She worked as a teacher and an intern for UNICEF before becoming an author and a journalist. She has written several books, including two memoirs with her sister, Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life (2017) and Sisters First: A Children’s Book (2020), as well as a best-selling children’s book, Read All About It! (2008). She joined Today as a correspondent in 2009 and became a co-host of the fourth hour with Hoda Kotb in 2019.
Billy Bush and Jenna Bush Hager are first cousins once removed on their paternal side. Their common ancestor is Prescott Sheldon Bush (1895-1972), who was a U.S. senator from Connecticut and the father of George H. W. Bush. Prescott had five children: Prescott Jr., George H.W., Nancy, Jonathan (Billy’s father), and William (Bucky). George H.W. had six children: George W., Robin (who died as a child), Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy. George W. had two children: Barbara and Jenna (Jenna’s mother).
This means that Billy’s grandfather (Prescott) was Jenna’s great-grandfather, and Billy’s father (Jonathan) was Jenna’s grandfather’s brother. Therefore, Billy is one generation older than Jenna in their family tree.
Conclusion
Billy Bush and Jenna Bush Hager are both members of the famous Bush family that has produced two presidents and many other notable figures in American politics, business, sports, and entertainment. They are related by blood through their paternal grandfather’s line, but they have different careers and personalities. They are both successful television hosts who have faced challenges and controversies in their lives, but they also share a bond as cousins who belong to one of the most powerful families in America.
According to Wikipedia
