Jenna Bush Hager Says Twin Barbara ‘‘Makes Me Feel Brave and Empowered’ (Exclusive)

Jenna Bush Hager can at all times depend on her twin sister Barbara Bush for a little bit of inspiration! 

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, the Today with Hoda & Jenna cohost, 42, spoke solely to PEOPLE about her particular relationship together with her sibling whereas on the Creator Book Club with Jenna Bush Hager and Coco Mellors hosted by Threads occasion at McNally Jackson Books Rockefeller Center in New York. 

Bush Hager, who was moderating a dialogue with Mellors for Mellors’ new novel, Blue Sisters, shares why the ebook was so inspiring to her as a sister and a reader,

“I mean, I think one of the themes that I’m always drawn towards in literature, really in life, is sisterhood,” the daytime speak present host says. “Because having a twin really has informed every decision I’ve ever made.” 

She provides that with out her sister, there may be a lot in life that she might not have tried to do. 

“I don’t think I’d have this job. I don’t know [that] I would’ve started this book club. She makes me feel brave and empowered, because she was my first audience. She was the first hand I held. And so I always felt supported, even when we were teens, and we threw shoes at each other’s head,” Bush Hager tells PEOPLE. 

Bush Hager, who’s an creator herself, felt Blue Sisters was utterly relatable. 

“I think the way that Coco describes sisterhood in such a real way, it’s not sugar coated. They’re not perfect, these sisters. The Blue Sisters have some deep flaws, just like all of us do. And yet, they’re better when they find home within each other. And I love that. I love the concept of that,” she continues.

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Bush Hager tells PEOPLE that she and her twin have been “major readers” rising up, and nonetheless are at this time.

“I recommend books to her all the time. And she sends, well, she doesn’t send books to me,” Bush Hager says — however not as a result of her sister doesn’t care. 

“Because I can’t read anything else, because I have to work. But she’s reading a book I just sent her. She read Blue Sisters, and she loved it,” Bush Hager provides of the novel, which is her September 2024 Read with Jenna ebook membership decide. 

She and Bush are the daughters of former President George W. Bush and his spouse, Laura Bush.

On the Monday, Sept. 23, broadcast of Today with Hoda and Jenna, Bush Hager recalled a time she was moderating an occasion and her well-known father, 78, teased her in entrance of former President Barack Obama.

She was talking at A&E and History Channel’s History Talk dialog when her dad took over and introduced up one in every of her not-so-proud moments. 

“I used to be with my mother and father which is already actually hilarious as a result of [of] the dynamic,” she mentioned. “[He] was like, ‘Alright Jenna, why don’t you inform everyone in regards to the time you have been arrested?’ It was simply an hour roast. I might ask questions, he would roast me somewhat. I might ask a query, slight roast.”

Later, Obama, 63, who “must have seen some of the roasting,” mentioned to Bush Hager, “This must be hard for you.” 

“And I mentioned, ‘Yes it’s,'” she informed her co-host Hoda Kotb.