Jenna Bush Hager Says Her 6-Year-Old Son Hal Licks Her Face 'Like a Cat': 'He Loves Me, What Can I Say?'

Rachel Raposas, Rachel McRadyWed, June 24, 2026 at 3:34 PM UTC

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Jenna Bush Hager and her son, Hal.Credit: Jenna Bush Hager/Instagram -

Jenna Bush Hager revealed her 6-year-old son Hal sometimes licks her face

This unique way of showing affection was likely inspired by Bush Hager's family pets, she said

"He loves me, what can I say?" she said

Jenna Bush Hager is sharing the unconventional way her son Hal likes to show his love.

On the Wednesday, June 24 episode of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, Bush Hager revealed that her 6-year-old son, Hal, sometimes licks her face as a way of showing affection. Turns out, Bush Hager said, Hal likely picked up the mannerism from their pets.

"He likes to lick my [forehead] like a cat. We have cats," Bush Hager said. She added, "And not on my mouth — you guys, don't get all freaky."

Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones on Today with Jenna and Sheinelle.Credit: NBC

Maybe the behavior would be less odd coming from a 2-year-old, Bush Hager's co-host Sheinelle Jones mused, though she wasn't particularly enthusiastic about a toddler licking her, either.

Bush Hager added that when her son does lick her, it's often on the cheek — "like he's a cub," Jones noted. "And you just let him?"

"Well, no," Bush Hager replied. "I say, 'Please don't lick me. Please stop licking me.' But sometimes it doesn't work."

She added, "He loves me, what can I say?"

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Hal is the youngest of Bush Hager's three children, all of whom she shares with her husband, Henry Chase Hager. The couple is also parents to daughters Mila, 13, and Poppy, 10.

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When Hal turned 6 in September, Bush Hager shared a heartwarming tribute to her youngest in a series of posts on her Instagram Stories. In one of the photos, Bush Hager and her son were on a boat ride, during which the mother of three bent down to kiss her son, who wore a little lifejacket.

She captioned the image, "Happiest to my son! My sun 🌞."

Jenna Bush Hager and her three children — Mila, Hal and Poppy.Credit: Jenna Bush Hager/Instagram

Earlier that month, Bush Hager revealed that her son had started kindergarten. During the Sept. 4 episode of Today with Jenna & Friends, Bush Hager celebrated all three of her children's first days of school — Mila entered seventh grade, while Poppy began fourth grade.

"Kinder, seventh grade and fourth grade, which I can't believe. But they had such a good day!" she wrote in the caption. "You know, I think sometimes, and I know you've felt this, as a parent, we can't be at everything. So to miss the first day was hard, but the other thing is, kids are so resilient. Humans are so resilient."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”