At a Glance
- Jenna Bush Hager is producing her first scripted TV drama, “Protection,” for NBC
- The show centers on multiple layers of law enforcement, including the Secret Service
- Production is slated to begin in spring 2025
- Why it matters: The longtime “TODAY” personality expands from morning host to drama producer under her NBC first-look deal
Jenna Bush Hager is stepping into a brand-new role in 2025, adding television producer to her résumé. During the Jan. 14 broadcast of “TODAY With Jenna & Sheinelle,” the 44-year-old revealed she will executive-produce the NBC drama “Protection,” her first foray into scripted series.
From Morning Host to Showrunner
Bush Hager is developing the project alongside a high-profile team:
- Josh Safran, creator and showrunner of “Quantico”
- Ben Spector, executive producer of Eva Longoria’s “Searching for Mexico”
The collaboration marks the first production from her own company after she signed a first-look deal with NBC’s Universal Studio Group.
A Personal Connection
The subject matter draws directly from Bush Hager’s life. “It’s about different levels of law enforcement, some based on Secret Service,” she told co-host Sheinelle Jones. “So, y’all know I know about that.”
Her father, former President George W. Bush, and mother, former First Lady Laura Bush, were protected by the agency throughout their time in the White House. Bush Hager grew up familiar with the inner workings of protective details, a perspective she is now channeling into storytelling.
Pitching With a Twist
Bush Hager said she sat in on every network pitch because she was eager to watch executives react to the pilot’s storyline.
“I joined all the pitches because every time, to watch these sometimes jaded executives’ – not all of you, not all of you – faces drop with the twist,” she said. “The twist is so good.”
She did not reveal the specific plot turn but emphasized that the surprise element landed every time.
Production Timeline
Filming could begin within months. “So, we’re hopefully going to start shooting this spring, cross your fingers, y’all,” Bush Hager said. “I’m so excited.”
If the schedule holds, cameras would roll roughly five months after the project’s announcement.
A Career First
Before this deal, Bush Hager had never produced scripted television. “Who knew I would ever do something like this, ladies and gentlemen?” she asked the morning-show audience.
Her prior production experience came through the “Read With Jenna” book club she launched on “TODAY,” which turned selected novels into instant bestsellers but did not involve film or series development.
Background in Education and Media
Bush Hager’s media career began after four years teaching at a public elementary school in Washington, D.C. She joined NBC in 2009 as a “TODAY” correspondent and became co-host of the show’s fourth hour in 2019 after Kathie Lee Gifford departed.
Since then she has interviewed U.S. presidents, Oscar winners and bestselling authors while raising three children with husband Henry Hager: Mila, 12, Poppy, 10, and Hal, 6.
What’s Next
With “Protection” moving toward production, Bush Hager will juggle producing duties alongside her live morning-show responsibilities. The Daytime Emmy winner has not indicated whether she intends to appear on-screen in the series, focusing instead on shaping the story behind the camera.
Key Takeaways
- Bush Hager’s production company, backed by Universal Studio Group, will deliver “Protection” as its first series
- The Secret Service-themed drama heads into filming spring 2025
- The project partners the morning-show host with proven showrunner Josh Safran and producer Ben Spector
