Jenna Bush Hager Defends Her Southern Accent On-Air

Jenna Bush Hager has chosen to maintain her authentic voice, including her Southern accent, while on-air. During a recent segment on the Today show, Hager, alongside co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, discussed the growing trend of reporters going viral for their distinctive accents.

Hager recounted an early experience in her broadcasting career where she was advised to eliminate her Southern vernacular, specifically 'y'alls.' She humorously recounted her defiant refusal to comply, stating, 'no thank you.' Guthrie noted that the advice proved ineffective, as she and others now frequently use 'y'all.'

Melvin shared his own experiences with regional speech, mentioning phrases like 'reckons.' The conversation touched upon how accents can resurface after returning to familiar surroundings, with Hager jokingly noting that 'one margarita and a little bit of queso' can bring back her full Southern cadence.

The segment also included a lighthearted exchange with Al Roker about accents from areas like Queens, with Roker humorously lamenting that broadcasting standards had previously encouraged a 'general American accent,' which he felt had 'beaten out' his own regional inflections.