Billy Bush and Jenna Bush Hager are both well-known television personalities who share more than just a passion for broadcasting. They are also related by blood, as members of the influential Bush family that has produced two U.S. presidents and several other prominent figures in politics, business, and entertainment.
But how exactly are Billy and Jenna related, and what are their roles in the Bush family tree? Here’s a brief overview of their surprising family ties.
Billy Bush: The Nephew of George H.W. Bush and the Cousin of George W. Bush
Billy Bush, whose full name is William Hall Bush, was born on October 13, 1971, in Manhattan, New York. He is the son of Jonathan Bush, a banker and former Republican National Committee finance chairman, and Josephine Colwell Bush.
Billy’s father is the younger brother of George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, who served from 1989 to 1993. This makes Billy the nephew of George H.W. Bush and the cousin of George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, who served from 2001 to 2009.
Billy is also the cousin of Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida and a presidential candidate in 2016, and Neil Bush, a businessman and philanthropist. He has four other cousins: Marvin Bush, Doro Bush Koch, Barbara Pierce Bush, and Lauren Bush Lauren.
Billy is also the first cousin once removed of Jenna Bush Hager, Barbara Pierce Bush Coyne, and George P. Bush, who are the children of George W. Bush and his wife Laura.
Billy attended St. Bernard’s School in Manhattan and St. George’s School in Rhode Island for his education. He graduated from Colby College in Maine with a degree in international studies and government.
Billy began 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 show in 2004 and also hosted The Billy Bush Show, a nationally syndicated talk and music radio show, from 2008 to 2014.
In 2016, Billy left Access Hollywood to join Today as a co-host in its third hour. However, his tenure on the show was short-lived, as he was fired later that year after a controversial recording surfaced of him and Donald Trump having a lewd conversation in 2005.
Since 2019, Billy has been the host of Extra, a syndicated entertainment news magazine show that moved from NBC to Fox.
Jenna Bush Hager: The Daughter of George W. Bush and the Granddaughter of George H.W. Bush
Jenna Bush Hager, whose full name is Jenna Welch Bush Hager, was born on November 25, 1981, in Dallas, Texas. She is the daughter of George W. Bush and Laura Bush, and the fraternal twin sister of Barbara Pierce Bush Coyne.
Jenna’s father is the son of George H.W. Bush and Barbara Pierce Bush, making Jenna the granddaughter of the 41st president and the former first lady. She is also the niece of Jeb Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, Doro Bush Koch, and Jonathan Bush.
Jenna attended Preston Hollow Elementary School and The Hockaday School in Dallas before moving to Austin with her family when her father became the governor of Texas in 1995. She graduated from Austin High School in 2000 and then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a degree in English in 2004.
Jenna was involved in some controversies during her college years, as she was arrested twice for alcohol-related charges when she was underage.
Jenna became an author after her father’s presidency ended in 2009. She co-wrote two books with her sister Barbara: Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life (2017) and Sisters First: A Children’s Book (2020). She also wrote two books based on her experiences as a teacher and a UNICEF volunteer: Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope (2007) and Read All About It! (2008).
Jenna also pursued a career in television journalism, joining Today as a correspondent in 2009. She became a contributor and occasional co-host of the show in 2012 and then a co-anchor of its fourth hour with Hoda Kotb in 2019.
Jenna married Henry Chase Hager, a businessman and former White House aide to her father, in 2008. They have three children: Margaret Laura \”Mila\” Hager, Poppy Louise Hager, and Henry Harold \”Hal\” Hager.
Conclusion
Billy Bush and Jenna Bush Hager are cousins who belong to the Bush family, one of the most prominent political dynasties in American history. They are both descendants of George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, and related to George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States.
Billy and Jenna have both carved out successful careers in the media industry, hosting popular shows on different networks. They have also faced some challenges and controversies in their personal and professional lives, but they have maintained a close bond with their family members.
Billy and Jenna are examples of how the Bush family legacy continues to influence and inspire generations of Americans..
