Jenna Bush Hager recounted a memorable family moment involving her late grandmother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, during a recent episode of “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.” The NBC anchor shared how Barbara Bush once chastised her in a letter for unsportsmanlike behavior during a family tennis match.

Bush Hager described herself as highly competitive and admitted to engaging in spirited antics on the court. “I was doing the worm and yelling, ‘Not today!’” she recounted, adding that she was an adult at the time of the incident. While her father, former President George W. Bush, found her behavior entertaining and expressed support by cheering her on, her grandmother and late grandfather, former President George H.W. Bush, took a different view.

She explained that her grandfather valued sportsmanship and kindness, principles that her behavior did not align with. Barbara Bush’s response was to write a letter addressed to both Bush Hager and her father. According to the anchor, the letter expressed disapproval of her conduct on the tennis court and also admonished George W. Bush for encouraging it. The letter concluded with a request that it be discarded and the matter kept private.

Bush Hager, 44, shared the story with a lighthearted tone, noting the irony of Barbara Bush’s handwritten reprimand and the plea for discretion. She has previously shared personal family anecdotes on air, highlighting her willingness to bring humor and warmth to her public appearances.

In a separate revelation on the program, Bush Hager spoke about her children—Mila, 13, Poppy, 10, and Hal, 6—sharing that they affectionately call her “Biggie,” a nickname that initially surprised her. She commented on the dynamic with her husband, Henry Chase Hager, and their family life with a similarly candid and playful approach.