Jenna Bush Hager called George W. Bush crying about Hoda Kotb’s “Today” exit.

Jenna Bush Hager cried to her father, George W. Bush, after learning that Hoda Kotb was leaving “Today.”

During Thursday’s episode of “Today with Hoda and Jenna,” the two tearfully spoke about the former president’s reaction to the news that Kotb, 60, is leaving the NBC show in early 2025.

“I don’t know if you’re ashamed to say that or not, but I think you should,” Kotb told Bush Hager, 42.

Kotb continued, “You called your father. And I remember when we started working together, you were scared.”

A tearful Bush Hager recalled talking to her father, 78, when she replaced Kathie Lee Gifford as Kotb’s co-host on the 10 a.m. entertainment show at “Today” in 2019.

“I called my dad when I started. He said: ‘I’m so happy for you – and Hoda is the star. You’re going to agree with that, right? Will you agree to share the spotlight with the star?'” Bush Hager said.

“I said, ‘Yes.’ Of course.'”

Bush Hager then revealed that he had contacted the former president to talk about Kotb leaving the show.

“I called him last night. First of all, he thought something really awful (happened), like a lost loved one, because of how emotional I was,” she said.

“And he said, ‘Oh, she’s leaving because it’s time and you’re going to be fine. It’s your turn. It’s OK,’” Bush Hager said.

Kotb stood and applauded in response to hearing Bush’s comments.

“It’s your turn. It’s your turn,” she said, echoing the former commander-in-chief.

“And whoever’s sitting in this chair is going to have the easiest job in the world because they’re sitting next to you,” Kotb told Bush Hager as he cried. “The only thing he has to do is not laugh so hard he pees his pants. That’s it. They just have to hang on.”

Kotb told the former first daughter that she was “a shining light” and that it was her “turn.”

Bush Hager replied, “If I’m shiny, it’s because I’m standing in your shine. We all are. We’ve all had an incredible five years together.”

Kotb then told the cameras to pan to the entire staff of their show and led a round of applause for them.

“You are so loved and you made each and every one of us feel adored,” Bush Hager told his co-host. “We can’t imagine life without you, but the good news is we don’t have to, because you’ll be here for another three months!”

“I promise you,” Bush Hager continued, “the next three months will not be a sob fest. We will have fun. We will celebrate you.”

Bush Hager joined “Today” as a contributor and anchor in 2009. She began co-anchoring the fourth hour of “Today” with Kotb in 2019 following Gifford’s exit.

Kotb, meanwhile, has been with NBC since 1998. She was a correspondent for “Dateline” before joining the “Today” staff 10 years later. She began hosting the fourth hour of the show in 2008.

The beloved journalist announced her exit to “Today” Thursday morning.

In a letter to the “Today” staff, Kotb wrote, “I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I feel that so deeply right now. I love you and it’s time to leave the show.”

“My time at NBC has been the longest professional love story of my life,” Kotb said, adding that she chose to leave the show to spend more time with her daughters Haley, 7 years old, and Hope, 5 years old.

Kotb was joined by her co-hosts as she broke the news of her exit, including Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Craig Melvin and Sheinelle Jones.

While she is leaving “Today,” Kotb will continue to work for NBC in an undisclosed capacity.