Jenna Bush Hager Says She’s 'Retiring from Acting' After Making Debut in Hallmark Christmas Movie

“I can’t tell you too much about my part but I did get to star with some Chiefs players,” Bush Hager said on the July 16 episode of the 'Today' show

Jenna Bush Hager on Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Jenna Bush Hager. Photo:

 Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Jenna Bush Hager is ready for her television acting debut!

The host, 42, recalled her experience filming the upcoming Hallmark Christmas movie, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. On the Tuesday, July 16 episode of the Today show, Bush Hager revealed the details of working on the movie, based around the Kansas City Chiefs football team.

“No autographs! No autographs!” she jokingly shouted before explaining, “It was so much fun.”

Because she was filming for Christmastime, she also admitted that one of the biggest challenges was the weather.

“It feels hot today, right guys?” she said. “Nothing like the heat dome in Kansas City. It was the hottest day of the year and it was Christmas, so the sweat stains were something to be seen.”

Adding that she “had the best time,” Bush Hager said meeting the other stars of the movie made her feel welcomed into the Hallmark family.

The role, which fans will get to see when it comes out around Thanksgiving, allowed Bush Hager to be “a star for a day,” but even so, she isn’t too sure she will be switching careers anytime soon.

“I have to say, I called Henry last night and said I was retiring from acting,” she laughed. “I gave it a shot!”

She also credited co-anchor Hoda Kotb for giving her the advice not to “over-act,” since Bush Hager confessed she does “tend to.”

“[I thought] don't over-act and just be cool, and it was so much fun,” she said.

Jenna Bush Hager
Jenna Bush Hager.

Eugene Gologursky/Getty for Project Lyme

As for the famous faces she got to see, Bush Hager shared that she got advice from the Chiefs’ coach Andy Reid and met Travis Kelce’s mom, Donna Kelce, whose part in the project was announced on July 13.

“I can’t tell you too much about my part but I did get to star with some Chiefs players,” she said. “And of course the film’s amazing stars who were so gracious, Hunter King and Tyler Hines.”

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In June, Hallmark announced that the movie will star King, 30, as Chiefs superfan Alana, who becomes a finalist in the team's “Fan of the Year” contest. Hynes, 38, will play Derrick, the Chiefs' Director of Fan Engagement, whose job is to pick a winner, but he unexpectedly falls for Alana in the process.

On Friday, July 12, NFL.com revealed that Reid and Chiefs players Trey Smith, Mecole Hardman, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and George Karlaftis would also be appearing in the movie.

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