Jenna Bush Hager is ready to swap the Today show stage for Broadway lights—if Dolly Parton gives her the chance. On the Monday, December 9 episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, the 43-year-old co-host made her dreams known, playfully campaigning for a role in Parton’s highly anticipated Broadway musical, Dolly: An Original Musical.
“Dolly. Please?” Bush Hager said with a big smile. “I just want a little small part!”
The nationwide search for someone to portray the iconic country star has sparked excitement, and Bush Hager wasted no time throwing her hat—or wig—into the ring. Her co-host Hoda Kotb, always supportive, eagerly backed her friend’s Broadway ambition.
“It would be a dream, Dolly, if my friend Jenna Bush Hager might have a shot at something,” Kotb, 60, said with a grin. “All she wants is to be an extra. Just in the back, having coffee.”
Bush Hager wasn’t about to stop at being an extra, though. With a twinkle in her eye, she suggested a slightly bigger role:
“Or what about part of the chorus? What about a part of the ensemble?” she proposed enthusiastically.
Kotb quickly vetoed that idea with a playful but firm “no.”
Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Bush Hager decided to prepare an impromptu audition to show she meant business. Sporting a curly, bleach-blonde wig reminiscent of Dolly’s signature style, she delivered a lighthearted spoken-word rendition of the iconic lyrics to Jolene.
“It was the best we could do on short notice,” she joked, acknowledging her hastily thrown-together Parton-inspired look.
Before performing, she added a disclaimer: “I have prepared for you, Miss Dolly Parton, the lyrics to Jolene. But my voice is a little off.”
With Kotb egging her on—“Just do it. Just sell it!”—Bush Hager launched into the dramatic spoken-word performance, earning laughs and cheers from the studio.
The excitement surrounding Dolly: An Original Musical has been building for months. The production, which was previously titled Hello, I’m Dolly, will tell the inspiring story of Parton’s legendary life and illustrious career. Featuring a mix of her timeless classics and brand-new songs written exclusively for the show, the musical is expected to captivate audiences across generations.
Co-written by Dolly Parton and Maria S. Schlatter, the show will be directed by the acclaimed Bartlett Sher. It promises to be a heartfelt, uplifting journey through the highs and lows of Parton’s extraordinary life.
Whether Bush Hager lands her dream role—or even a background cameo—remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: her enthusiasm for Dolly and Broadway is infectious. Fans of the Today show were quick to share their support on social media, with many encouraging Parton to “give Jenna a shot.”
With the buzz around the musical and Bush Hager’s playful plea, Dolly might just have to consider this unexpected audition. Until then, Bush Hager will be waiting—wig and all—ready for her big Broadway break.
“Dolly, please?” might just be the line that earns her a spot under the bright lights.