Jenna Bush Hager wants to be on Broadway.
The co-host of Today with Hoda & Jenna and an accomplished author has her sights set on a new stage.
On the Monday, Dec. 9 episode of the NBC daytime show, Bush Hager, 43, playfully expressed her interest in Dolly Parton’s upcoming Broadway musical, Dolly: An Original Musical.
While discussing the production and its nationwide talent search to find someone to portray Parton, Bush Hager eagerly volunteered.
“Dolly. Please?” she said with a smile. “I just want a little small part!”
Hoda Kotb, Bush Hager’s co-host, joined in to champion her friend’s dream.
“It would be a dream, Dolly, if my friend Jenna Bush Hager might have a shot at something,” Kotb, 60, said. “All she wants is to be an extra. Just in the back, having coffee.”
Bush Hager took it a step further, suggesting, “Or what about part of the chorus? What about a part of the ensemble?” Kotb quickly shut that idea down with a firm “no.”
In the spirit of fun, Bush Hager prepared a lighthearted audition for the role.
Sporting a curly, bleach-blonde wig to emulate Parton’s signature look, she humorously admitted, “It was the best we could do on short notice.”
She then delivered a spoken-word version of the lyrics to Parton’s classic hit, Jolene.
“I have prepared for you, Miss Dolly Parton, the lyrics to Jolene. But my voice is a little off,” Bush Hager explained before her performance. Encouraging her, Kotb playfully urged, “Just do it. Just sell it!”
Dolly: An Original Musical, previously titled Hello, I’m Dolly, will tell the story of the iconic singer’s life and career.
The production will feature Parton’s timeless hits as well as new songs written exclusively for the show. Co-written by Parton and Maria S. Schlatter, the musical will be directed by Bartlett Sher.
