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Jenna Bush Hager got teary-eyed on Today while sharing her personal connection to Camp Mystic in the wake of the devastating Texas flash floods. “My mom [Laura Bush] was a counselor there, but also, so many of my friends were raised at this camp,” Bush Hager told Craig Melvin on the Monday, June 7, episode of the NBC morning show. “Texas camps are institutions … this camp was 100 years old, so grandmothers, mothers, kids have all gone there. My mom was a drama counselor there. But many of my friends were there [and] had their kids there last week. And the stories I heard over the last couple days were beautiful and heartbreaking.” Camp Mystic revealed in a recent statement that they are “grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors” after flash floods spread across Texas over the 4th of July weekend. “Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy.

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Jenna Bush Hager wants to set the record straight.

Recently, viewers of Today With Jenna & Friends could not help but notice a conspicuous change in her accessories.

Where is Jenna’s ring?

In addition to interviewing guests, Jenna also debunked split speculation about her marriage to Henry Chase Hager.

On NBC’s ‘Today With Jenna & Friends,’ the titular Jenna Bush Hager speaks. (Image Credit: NBC)

During a recent episode of Today With Jenna & Friends, Jenna directly addressed the divorce rumors — hoping to nip them in the bud.

She explained that it was nothing more than “a bad wedding ring situation.” You see, she has an injury.

“I’m not wearing [a wedding ring] now because I broke my finger,” Jenna told the audience.

“But don’t worry, I’ve seen some of the comments — Henry and I are still very happily married.”

In virtually the same breath...

Family, literature, and wellness take center stage on Tuesday’s Today Show. During the 7-9 a.m. hours, former First Lady Laura Bush will be joined by her daughters, Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush, to discuss their new book, “I Loved You First,” a heartwarming collection of stories about their family pets. Author Gregory Maguire, known […]

The Today Show: Laura Bush & Family, Gregory Maguire...

Joseph Di Palma, a producer and longtime sponsor of the syndicated program Nightly Business Report, died March 4 of pneumonia at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, his wife, Joycelyn Engle, announced. He was 94.

Di Palma produced such features as The Innocent and the Damned (2005), Amazing Racer (2009) — also known as Shannon’s Rainbow — and Awakened (2013).

He also was behind The Di Palma Forum, a four-year celebrity interview TV series that benefited the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. It featured high-profile guests discussing national issues.

He sponsored the Nightly Business Report, which was syndicated by American Public Television, for a decade.

Di Palma was born on Jan. 17, 1931, in New York and raised in Forest Hills Gardens. His parents were Gaetano Di Palma, a civil engineer who built the Italian Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, and Michela May Ambrosio Di Palma.

He earned a B.A. from Columbia University in 1952 and,...

President Donald Trump says he has fired multiple members of the board at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and will soon install himself as chair.

In a post on Truth Social Friday, Trump said he had removed the chairman, billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein, saying he did not “share our vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture,” citing drag shows reportedly held at the performing arts venue.

“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Great Again. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture. We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, Donald J. Trump!,” the post reads.

The board of trustees lists Shonda Rhimes as treasurer, as well as businessman Anthony Welters as...

From April 4 to May 23, 2001, Comedy Central ran eight episodes of a 30-minute sitcom called "That's My Bush!," a sendup of the then-active George W. Bush administration. The premise of the show was as broad as possible. George W. Bush (Timothy Bottoms) was in the White House, but his life was more akin to that of an old-fashioned, 1980s-era workplace sitcom than that of a sitting president. There was a noisy, obnoxious laugh track paired with bright, even TV lighting, making the show look deliberately old-fashioned and artificial. Kurt Fuller played the buttoned-down killjoy Karl Rove, while Carrie Quinn Dolin played Laura Bush.

More than being a spoof of the Bush administration, however (and there was plenty to spoof), "That's My Bush!" was a satire of all-American sitcoms. Show creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker (of "South Park" fame) merely used the White House as a backdrop to mock dated sitcom...

Tiffany Trump showed her support for her father, Donald Trump, as he was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20 in Washington D.C.

The daughter of Trump and Marla Maples, who recently announced she is expecting her first child with husband Michael Boulos, attended the historic event dressed in a long suede blue ensemble. Boulos accompanied her in a black suit with a white shirt and red polka dot tie.

The inauguration saw the attendance of notable political figures, including President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton were also present, alongside their respective spouses, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton. However, former First Lady Michelle Obama was absent from the event.

Tiffany, a Georgetown Law graduate, has publicly shown her support for her father on multiple occasions.

The living former U.S. Presidents and their First Ladies are attending Donald Trump‘s inauguration on Monday (January 20) in Washington, DC with two notable absences.

Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were seated together in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol to witness the 78-year-old president elect be sworn back into office.

Former First Ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush were also present. However, Michelle Obama notably skipped the event.

Keep reading to find out more…

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who was Donald’s vice president in his first term, also attended the inauguration. However, his wife Karen was not present.

Current First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff were also seated alongside the group. We’ve got photos of everyone in the gallery!

According to reporting by People, former Presidents Obama and Clinton and former Vice President Pence were booed by members of the crowd.

Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on Monday. The event has become an easy way for the rich and powerful to curry favor with the incoming administration. Trump’s inaugural committee has raised around $200 million since he won the election, according to The New York Times, which adds that major donors are being placed on wait lists or being told they will not be able to land VIP tickets.

The ceremony will be especially exclusive considering Trump announced on Friday that it will be held indoors,...

On Tuesday, the office of Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle Obama, announced that the former first lady would not be attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

A statement from the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama declared, “Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th inaugural Ceremonies. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration.”

Over the years, Michelle has been unabashedly vocal about her loathing for Trump and accused him of endangering her family through offensive and malicious language.

Ahead of Trump’s swearing-in in 2017, Michelle and Obama invited Trump and his wife, Melania, to the White House for tea and discussion. The attempt to bridge the distance between the political figures was unsuccessful, and in a 2023 podcast, Michelle recounted her experience of Trump’s inauguration in 2017: “To sit on that stage and watch the opposite of what we represented on display – there was no diversity,...

Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend Donald Trump’s inauguration next week, although former President Barack Obama will be there along with his living predecessors.

“Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,” the office of the former president and first lady said in a statement. No explanation was given.

Michelle Obama also did not attend the state funeral last week of Jimmy Carter. Her husband did attend, and cameras captured him and Trump sharing laughter at certain moments.

Bill and Hillary Clinton also will attend the swearing in ceremony, as will George and Laura Bush, the Associated Press reported.

President Joe Biden said that he will attend the inauguration, even though Trump skipped his swearing in ceremony in 2021. Trump made false claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against him, leading to...

Former First Lady Michelle Obama is skipping the inauguration of Donald Trump on Monday (January 20) in Washington, DC.

“Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,” a statement from Office of Barack and Michelle Obama read, via the AP.

Keep reading to find out more…

Others notable guests expected to attend the Inauguration next week include former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, former First Lady Laura Bush and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, current President Joe Biden, and others. It’s unclear if VP Kamala Harris will attend at this time.

Michelle Obama also did not attend Jimmy Carter‘s funeral last week and it was later explained why.

Jenna Bush Hager jokingly talks about her new ‘dating era’ as she is starting her new solo fourth hour of Today with Jenna & Friends. However, she also has her first celebrity co-host of the show joining her. Keep reading to find out who.

Jenna Bush Hager’s Background

Jenna Bush Hager is a 43-year-old American news personality, author, and journalist. She was born on November 25, 1981, in Dallas, Texas. Her parents are George W. Bush the 43rd U.S. President and former First Lady Laura Bush. She also has a fraternal twin sister named Barbra, the twins are also the granddaughters of the 41st U.S. President George H.W. Bush. Jenna attended the University of Texas at Austin and took summer classes at New York University.

Jenna Bush Hager | YouTube

While attending college Jenna and her sister got into some legal trouble and both got arrested for alcohol-related charges, twice, within five weeks.

On Friday’s (January 10) new live episode of The View, the cohosts started the hour by talking about the memorial service for former President Jimmy Carter, which was attended by all five living presidents and some of their spouses — Bill and Hillary Clinton, George and Laura Bush, Barack Obama (Michelle Obama was absent), Donald and Melania Trump, and Joe and Jill Biden — as well as some of the vice presidents — Dan Quayle, Al Gore, Mike Pence (with wife Karen), and Kamala Harris (with Doug Emhoff). “I couldn’t take my eyes off of the body language,” Joy Behar said before showing a much-seen moment in which Trump made Obama laugh. “It looks like Trump is asking Obama which country the Panama Canal was in!… I wish I was a fly on Mike Pence. I would have liked to have really seen what was going on, but I didn’t have any sound.

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood lent their voices to honor their late friend Jimmy Carter. On Thursday, the country star couple sang a touching rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” at the former president’s funeral, less than two years after singing the track at Rosalynn Carter’s memorial service.

“Imagine there’s no countries/It isn’t hard to do,” sang Brooks, backed by a soft piano. “Nothing to kill or die for/And no religion, too.”

President Joe Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden, George and Laura Bush,...

The former US Presidents, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, were all photographed at the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday (January 9) in Washington, DC.

Also seen paying respects for the former President were former First Ladies Melania Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Laura Bush, as well as President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, VP Kamala Harris, her husband Doug Emhoff, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former VP Al Gore, and former VP Mike Pence. It does not appear as if former President Obama‘s wife, Michelle Obama, joined him.

President elect Trump shook hands with Mike Pence. The pair had a fallout in early 2021 as Trump denied the election results.

Browse through the gallery for all of the photos…...

With Hoda Kotb’s exit from Today, Jenna Bush Hager is demanding a bigger paycheck. Hager has not been there as long as her fellow co-hosts, but believes she is putting in “the same amount of work.”

Jenna Bush Hager Is Making Waves At The Today Show

The American news personality, author, and journalist, Jenna Welch Hager is a co-host on Today with Hoda & Jenna. This is the NBC Morning News fourth hour. Bush has a twin sister, Barbra. They are the daughters of George W. Bush and Laura Bush who were the 43rd U.S. President and first lady.

The 42-year-old from Dallas, Texas married Henry Chase Hager in 2008. The couple has three kids, Mila, Poppy, and Henry “Hal.” With 1 million followers, she is quite the celebrity and has garnered much attention despite not being on Today as long as others.

Hoda Kotb, a fellow reporter and journalist declared...

Two former U.S. presidents, one former first lady and noted historians, authors, academics and journalists gathered Saturday at the Academy Museum for a History Talks event that looked at moments of conflict in the nation’s past to bring perspective to the polarization of the present.

The 2010s were “a decade of indignation,” said David Brooks, New York Times political and cultural columnist. “That decade is now giving way – people want something more joyful.”

The event hosted by A+E Networks’ History Channel featured Q&As with President Barack Obama, who engaged playfully with Malcolm Gladwell, and President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush. That pair opened the half-day event with a wide-ranging conversation conducted by their daughter, “Today” co-host Jenna Bush Hager.

Other speakers at included Kevin Costner, Eva Longoria, Kerry Washington, Kate Winslet, Nicole Avant and John Legend. The event drew a large industry crowd,...

Kate Winslet is in her “life is too short” era, and we all here for it. Known for speaking her truth, the Oscar-winning actor has been making headlines while promoting her upcoming biopic Lee, in which she portrays renowned photojournalist Lee Miller. Winslet’s viral comments have included pushing back when a crew member had advised her to suck in her stomach to hide her “belly rolls” during a topless scene and subsequently dismissing her reaction being hailed as “bravery.”

In an interview during History Channel’s History Talks at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Saturday, Winslet continued speaking her mind on the topic.

“I quite like making statements. And actually, I have to say, I’m at the point where I’m just like, You know what? Life is too short,” she said onstage. “But it is one thing that’s been happening to me quite a lot recently,...

A potential pastry battle has been averted as Jellyroll (the Philadelphia wedding band) has dismissed their trademark infringement lawsuit against Jelly Roll (the hit-making country singer).

Back in April, Jellyroll sued Jelly Roll, arguing that the group had been operating under that moniker since 1980 — four years before Jason “Jelly Roll” DeFord was even born — and filed a trademark for the name back in 2010, the same year Jelly Roll started recording under the nickname given to him by his mother.

However, in a statement on the Jellyroll Band’s social media,...

Former President Bill Clinton is debuting a new video today in which he reflects on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, warning of the threat that toxic political discourse has on democracy.

The video is part of an “Explainer-in-Chief” series that Clinton is doing with Attn:, the Candle Media division that publishes content fusing entertainment and topical issues.

The bombing, which killed 168 people, took place 29 years ago today. “For every president there are certain days in your presidency you will never forget,” Clinton says in the video. “April 19, 1995, the day of the largest domestic terrorist attack in U.S. history is one of those days for me.”

“In the aftermath of the Oklahoma city bombing, I knew that we had a responsibility to do everything we could to ensure that something like this would never happen again,” Clinton says. “But perhaps an even greater responsibility was to urge people...

Jelly Roll is facing a trademark infringement lawsuit brought by the leader of a Pennsylvania-based band that’s been performing at weddings and charity events under the name Jellyroll since 1980.

The suit (highlighted in the Court Watch newsletter) was filed by Kurt L. Titchenell, who’s seeking injunctive relief against Jelly Roll to essentially stop him from using the name going forward. Titchenell’s suit claims that his band first used the Jellyroll name as long ago as March 9, 1980, and they obtained a trademark on Aug. 17, 2010, that was most recently renewed on Dec.

During a recent Today episode, Savannah Guthrie was absent from the lineup alongside her colleagues.

As NBC’s morning program arrived, viewers saw a recognizable replacement in Savannah’s spot.

Craig Melvin, who often appears on Today, was seated between Hoda Kotb and Sheinelle Jones.

“Well, hello, welcome to Today. It is Friday. We’re glad you’re with us,” Hoda said at the show’s start before announcing, “Savannah is off today.”

The NBC anchor recently received some backlash for an interview segment she did with singer and actress Kelly Rowland.

Some online critics deemed part of the interview “disrespectful” as Savannah attempted to get Rowland to answer a specific question.

Savannah interviewed singer on NBC’s Today before her absence

On Thursday’s Today episode, Savannah sat down with singer Kelly Rowland, formerly a member of Destiny’s Child. She’s gone on to a solo music career and has ventured into acting.

Melania Trump was labeled “disrespectful” and “inappropriate” after she didn’t wear black to Rosalynn Carter’s funeral.

On November 28, Trump led the row of all the living first ladies during Carter’s funeral. Instead of wearing the traditional black outfit, Trump wore a grey coat and stood out to the crowd.

Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and all the other first ladies in attendance wore the proper black attire.

Carter, who was married to the 39th president of the United States Jimmy Carter, died at 96 years old on November 19. Her funeral was held in Georgia, where she lived at the time of her death.

Jimmy Carter, former President Bill Clinton, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff were also in attendance. The former presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump were all noticeably absent.

Although Trump did wear a black dress underneath her coat,...

Rosalynn Carter was a first lady “who saw her role as going well beyond the essential, warm and welcoming host to being a close and trusted, yes, adviser” to her husband Jimmy Carter, PBS NewsHour senior correspondent Judy Woodruff recalled on Tuesday.

Woodruff was among the speakers at a tribute service for Carter, who died on Nov. 19 at age 96.

Carter’s husband, former President Jimmy Carter, 99, attended the service, as his daughter Amy held his hand for much of the service. Carter himself entered hospice care earlier this year, in part to be near his wife, with whom he was married for 77 years.

Also attending the service was President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, former President Bill Clinton, and all of the living former first ladies, including Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama and Melania Trump.

Woodruff recalled first...

How do you feel about Sound of Freedom? More importantly, why do you feel that way? Have you seen the film? Have you heard Tim Ballard or Jim Caviezel speak about it? Have you seen it lampooned or dissected across the internet? Is your opinion of the film based on the film, or based on ideological presuppositions? Do your beliefs transmogrify the media you consume and change it into a supporting argument for your own political persuasions?

If you watched Sound of Freedom in a vacuum, without any cultural context or background, you'd experience a painful but well-made movie that focuses on child trafficking and one Homeland Security agent's obsessive, dangerous, but righteous attempt to avoid the red tape of bureaucracy and save some trafficked children. You'd notice some meticulous dolly shots, some beautiful cinematography and lighting, and some extremely emotional beats. The last thing you'd ponder, though, is deep state conspiracies,...

A new Federal Election Commission filing revealed that Donald Trump’s Save America Pac spent millions of dollars on his legal fees after the multiple indictments and increasing legal problems. It was also discovered that the Pac paid Hervé Pierre Braillard more than $108,000 for “strategy consulting” from January to June 2023.

This amount would be normal if Braillard was a political consultant, but he is not. Braillard is a French-American fashion designer who has been styling Melania Trump for years. One of his designs was her inaugural ball gown in January 2017. In the past, he has also styled Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama.

This amount was highlighted by Rob Pyers, the research director of the California Target Book, who outlined the payment on Twitter.

“Incredibly, despite Trump’s cash crunch, his Save America leadership Pac shelled out another $108,000 in the first six months of the year for Melania Trump’s stylist,...

A new stage musical based on the classic Nancy Drew adventure book series is in the works from Little Mermaid composer Alan Menken, Legally Blonde lyricist Nell Benjamin, book by two-time Oscar winner Sarah Kernochan and direction by frequent Stephen Sondheim collaborator James Lapine.

Nancy Drew and the Mystery at Spotlight Manor: A Musical will be based on the Simon & Schuster book series and, according to the announcement from producers Daryl Roth, Lauren Mitchell, Revilo Imaginations (Beckett Swede and Ilana Landsberg-Lewis) and Bill & Laurie Benenson, “seeks to bring her story to a whole new audience while celebrating the power of her legacy which has inspired generations.”

Specific information of a production timeline or casting was not disclosed.

Lapine, who directed and wrote books for the musicals Into The Woods and, most recently, Flying Over Sunset, among many others, said in a statement, “After 175 Nancy Drew mysteries that span from her...

New York Times-bestselling novelist Curtis Sittenfeld broke out with her 2005 debut “Prep,” which unpacked the layered coming-of-age of a teenager at a private boarding school. Since then, she’s spun “Pride and Prejudice” for the 21st century with 2016’s “Eligible” and reimagined the fictional lives of Laura Bush in “American Wife” and Hillary Clinton in “Rodham.” Now, with “Romantic Comedy,” Sittenfeld crafts a lighthearted romance between a late-night comedy writer and an aging pop star, framed within a smart, funny commentary about the dynamics and perceptions of celebrity relationships.

“Romantic Comedy” follows Sally Milz, who writes for a fictional “Saturday Night Live”-esque show called “The Night Owls.” While not necessarily cynical about love, Milz has had enough experiences under her belt to mitigate her own expectations romantically. When her friend and colleague, Danny Horst gets engaged to a gorgeous actress named Annabel Horst, Milz puts pen to paper to...

Former President Donald Trump’s leadership Pac has reportedly paid a staggering $152,500 to Melania Trump’s former stylist, Herve Pierre, in 2022.

Earlier this week, Trump’s Save America Pac reported its expenditure in its year-end filing, which showed a string of payments made to the stylist.

According to the Federal Elections Commission (Fec), nine installments of $18,000 and $6,000 labeled “Strategy Consulting” as well as a $2,500 year-end bonus were made to Pierre. While the Fec does not allow traditional PACs to finance personal items, leadership PACs have fewer spending restrictions.

Pierre had recently come under scrutiny when it was revealed that he had received payments totaling to $60,000 in August 2022.

Speaking on his behalf, a spokesman told Women’s Wear Daily that “Mr. Pierre is a world-renowned artist. His work extends to many different fields, not just fashion design. His expertise is utilized for special projects and events.”

Indeed, the French-American designer has worked...

You’re not going to believe this, but Elizabeth Banks has never done cocaine.

“I took ‘Just say no’ to heart,” Banks says over breakfast in Beverly Hills. Growing up in western Massachusetts and moving to New York City to break into acting, the 48-year-old Banks had many opportunities to, you know, do some blow, but she claims she never took them. She says it was just too risky. “Being a goody-two-shoes played into it,” she says. “Personal safety played a big role in it. I was a cocktail waitress for years. And I was not interested in not being sober for the shit I saw.”

Banks has no such reservations, however, when it comes to filming a giant hairy mammal ingesting a boatload of coke. That is the wild premise of her latest film as a director, “Cocaine Bear.” The dark, R-rated action-comedy is loosely based on the true...

Former First Lady Melania Trump announced on Twitter that she will serve as Honorary Chair of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation.

Trump will join other first ladies including Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Rosalynn Carter in the foundation’s efforts to erect a monument honoring the efforts of the early American movement for women’s equality.

I am honored to join @WomensMonument and serve as an Honorary Chair of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation to help secure a monument on the National Mall of enduring inspiration for women and future female leaders. https://t.co/x7eOshRho7

— Melania Trump (@Melaniatrump) October 19, 2022

In December 2020, Congress enacted Public Law 116-217 authorizing the building of the Every Word We Utter Monument on Federal land in Washington, D.C.

The monument will commemorate the women’s suffrage movement and the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

It has been nearly a full year since Naomi Biden first got engaged to her longtime partner Peter Neal, and her White House wedding is now nearly upon us! Naomi is the oldest granddaughter of President Joe Biden, and the daughter of his son Hunter Biden.

They will be tying the not on November 19, and Biden has reportedly hired Bryan Rafanelli to manage the wedding. Rafanelli is a well-known Democratic event and fundraiser planner who also planned Chelsea Clinton’s wedding to Marc Mezvinsky in 2010.

More recently, Rafanelli also planned fundraising parties while Pete Buttigieg was running for President in 2020, and has done other jobs for local governments, including doing a review of Boston’s tourism office at the request of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh.

Neal and Biden met around 2018 in New York City. They are both politically active and recent law school graduates now working as practicing lawyers. Neal...

Click here to read the full article.

Elton John said Friday that he’d played in some beautiful venues, but the stage in front of the White House, beneath a massive tent on a perfect autumn night, was “probably the icing on the cake.”

Then he kicked off the show with “Your Song,” his first big international hit.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed the 75-year-old singer, talking about his activism, the power of his music and his all-around goodness. The event was dreamed up and paid for by A+E and the History Channel.

“Seamus Heaney once wrote, and I quote, ‘Once in a lifetime, the longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up, and hope and history rhyme,” Biden said. “Throughout his incredible career, Sir Elton John has been that tidal wave, a tidal wave to help people rise up and make hope and history rhyme.

Updated, Friday: After a short concert by Elton John on the South Lawn of the White House on Friday evening, President Joe Biden awarded the legendary singer with the National Humanities Medal, much to his surprise.

John was recognized as “an enduring icon and advocate with absolute courage, who found purpose to challenge convention, shatter stigma and advance the simple truth, that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”

John held First Lady Jill Biden’s hand for a bit before Biden placed the medal around his neck.

“I think we surprised him,” the president said.

“I’m never flabbergasted, but I’m flabbergasted, and humbled and honored by this incredible award from the United States of America,” John said, as he was close to tears. “I will treasure this so much, and it will make me double my efforts to make sure this disease goes away. America...

The White House honored former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama with their official portraits at an unveiling ceremony on Sept. 7. Attendees included President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, the Obamas's family members, as well as Sharon Sprung and Robert McCurdy, the artists behind the pair's likenesses. The Obamas' paintings are the first official portraits that have been introduced to the White House Collection since then-President Obama held an unveiling ceremony for former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush in 2012. The history-making paintings are also the first official White House portraits to feature a Black president and first lady.

Per White house tradition, two official portraits are created for each president and first lady. "One set is done by and for the National Portrait Gallery and the other set is funded by the White House Historical Association for the people's house,...

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama returned to the White House on Wednesday for the unveiling of their official portraits.

Robert McCurdy painted the portrait of the former president and Sharon Sprung of the former first lady.

At a ceremony in the East Room, covered by major cable news networks, President Joe Biden said that Obama will be “one of the most consequential presidents in history.”

White House Portrait Unveiling Ceremony for former President @BarackObama and First Lady @MichelleObama pic.twitter.com/SDc6yMpvrD

— Cspan (@cspan) September 7, 2022

The unveiling also marked the first time that the Obamas together returned to the White House since 2017. Barack Obama returned in March for a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.

The portraits are different from those unveiled in 2018 at the National Portrait Gallery. Those works, from Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, are currently on a national tour in major cities...

Never misunderestimate George W. Bush. The former president and infamous wordsmith is taking on higher education — and looking back at some of his presidential gaffes — as the latest instructor for MasterClass.

The 43rd president has joined the online platform to teach a class on “Authentic Leadership.” The class spans three hours (divided into 12 video lessons) and includes instruction on everything from “the art of personal diplomacy” to “crisis management” and “building a strong team.”

President Bush also speaks out about some of the most pivotal events from his time in office,...

Former President Donald Trump‘s Save America Pac has paid 60,000 in four installments to the designer who once styled Melania Trump.

The Pac, launched after the 2020 election to challenge results and raise money for candidates he supports, paid Hervé Pierre Braillard one installment of 6,000 on April 7 and three 18,000 payments on May 4, June 3 and June 24 according to the Federal Election Commission.

The funds used to pay Braillard are being described as “strategy consulting” services according to a senior official with Save America.

“Mr. Pierre serves as a senior advisor to Save America, involved in event management and special projects,” a Pac official said in a statement.

Melania is one of the many first ladies the French-American designer has styled. Braillard has worked for first ladies like Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama.

According to the Federal Elections Committee, it is against the rules for candidate PACs to spend money for personal use.

Donald Trump’s Save America political action committee — which raised 250 million on the promise that it would fight voter fraud following the 2020 election — isn’t just spending its funds to pay the legal bills for Jan. 6 witnesses. The Pac also gave 60,000 to a fashion designer associated with former First Lady Melania Trump.

USA Today reported that according to the Federal Elections Commission, from April 7 to June 24 of this year the Save America Pac made six payments totaling 60,000 to Hervé Pierre Braillard, the French designer who styled Melania during the Trump presidency.

As Chicago lawyer Michelle Obama becomes First Lady Michelle Obama in Showtime’s newest drama, her predecessor Laura Bush offers some words of advice and comfort. “You may think you have nothing in common with the First Ladies before you,” Laura tells her, “[but] trust me when I say we all felt that way.” Here, Laura Bush acts as both some benign voice of reason (an odd choice) and also as a mouthpiece for “The First Lady” writ large (odder), which tackles the stories of three First Ladies who share little beyond the fact of living in the White House.

There’s Michelle, played by Viola Davis with Obama’s familiar cadence (if also some very exaggerated stenciled half-moon eyebrows). In the timeline that comes closest to working is Betty Ford, embodied by an especially sharp Michelle Pfeiffer. Rounding out the cast is Gillian Anderson’s Eleanor Roosevelt, whose defining characteristic...

Showtime has released the first trailer for the upcoming anthology series, “The First Lady,” which follows presidential couples throughout American history.

The former U.S. presidents, first ladies, their families and colleagues will be played by a company of A-list stars. The Obamas, Fords and Roosevelts are among those portrayed on the series.

Viola Davis will play Michelle Obama opposite O.T. Fagbenle (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) as Barack Obama. Lexi Underwood (“Little Fires Everywhere”) and Saniyya Sidney (“King Richard”) play their daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama.

Michelle Pfeiffer plays Betty Ford, and Aaron Eckhart is Gerald Ford. Younger versions of their characters will be played by Kristine Froseth (“Looking for Alaska”) and Jake Picking (“Top Gun: Maverick”). Dakota Fanning plays their daughter, Susan Ford.

Gillian Anderson portrays Eleanor Roosevelt, with Eliza Scanlen (“Little Women”) playing her in her younger years. Kiefer Sutherland will play Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Christopher Plummer...

Jenna Bush Hager, co-host of Today with Hoda & Jenna, the third hour of NBC’s Today, has signed a first-look deal with Universal Studio Group. Under the pact. Hager will develop and produce projects with Universal Content Productions, Universal Television, Universal Television Alternative Studio and Universal International Studios for multiple platforms.

Hager is the founder of Today’s book club #ReadWithJenna. Since its launch in March 2019, 30 of Hager’s book club selections have become New York Times bestsellers.

“As an author and avid bibliophile, Jenna is uniquely tapped into the stories that resonate most with people and influence our culture,” said Pearlena Igbokwe, Chairman, Universal Studio Group. “Her literary passion is infectious and we are excited to begin this new partnership.”

“I am excited and thrilled with this natural extension of Read with Jenna’s mission to highlight debut and diverse authors,” said Hager. “This new partnership will expand these authors’ voices to new audiences,...

NBCUniversal wants to add an interesting new story to Jenna Bush Hager’s “Today” book club.

For nearly four years, the co-host of the 10 a.m. hour of “Today” has chosen a book each month for members of her “Read with Jenna” club to peruse and discuss. The selections typically focus on new authors and writers from diverse backgrounds who may not get the spotlight awarded to better-known contemporaries. Now, as part of a “first-look” production deal with Universal Studio Group, Bush Hager will have an opportunity to expand the stories she finds to other media. The pact was brokered by United Talent Agency, which represents Bush Hager.

“We just realized there is such an opportunity to make sure we are doing the best we can to highlight these authors and make sure their books live in other areas,” Bush Hager told Variety. Thirty of her selections have made the New York Times’ best-seller list,...

Fox has given a script commitment with penalty to White House Doctor, a one-hour drama based on Dr. Connie Mariano’s memoir, from Alyssa Milano and her Peace by Peace Productions, A+E Studios — where Milano is under a deal — Range Media Partners and Fox Entertainment.

There are no plans for Milano to star.

The White House Doctor is known as the “Shadow of the President.” Whether in the ER-like Medical Unit in the White House itself or traveling abroad, she‘s as close to the President as the Secret Service. As the President’s closest confidante, she’s burdened with the country’s most history-making secrets.

Inspired by the memoir of the first woman of color to serve as physician to three presidents, White House Doctor, written by William Harper, is a series about a smart but impulsive White House physician as she navigates the dangerous intersection of medicine and...

Hillary Clinton welled up while reading the speech she would have given if she had won the 2016 presidential election in a clip from her upcoming MasterClass session. “I’ve never shared this with anybody,” she said in the clip, which premiered in a segment from Sunday Today With Willie Geist that premiered today. “I’ve never read this out loud. But it helps to encapsulate who I am, what I believe in, and what my hopes were for the kind of country that I want for my grandchildren, and that I want for the world,...

Disney Channel has ordered a fifth season of “Raven’s Home,” starring Raven-Symoné as Raven Baxter and Isaac Ryan Brown as her son Booker. The spinoff series will continue to follow the adventures of the somewhat psychic Raven Baxter and her teen son Booker, who has inherited the same gift of catching glimpses of the future. Season five welcomes Rondell Sheridan to the cast, reprising the role of Victor Baxter, Raven’s dad. Also joining the cast are Mykal-Michelle Harris, Felix Avitia and Emmy Liu-Wang. Scott Thomas and Jed Elinoff developed the series and join Symoné as executive producers, along with Anthony C. Hill. The series was created by Michael Poryes and Susan Sherman and is a production of It’s a Laugh Productions, Inc.

Also in today’s TV news roundup:

Casting

Jackie Redmond will be joining WWE as the new co-host of “Raw Talk” and “Talking Smack” alongside WWE...

2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The nation has continued to process the terrorist event over the past two decades in many ways, including through television specials, documentaries and dramatized retellings. On and before the anniversary, networks will air content unpacking the politics of the event, commemorating the victims, speaking with the survivors and more.

Read a full list of 9/11 programming below. (More programming will be added to the list as networks announce titles.)

“9/11: Inside The President’s War Room” – A new special telling the story of 9/11 from the perspective of President George W. Bush and his advisors and cabinet members, including Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell among others. Jeff Daniels narrates the film. Adam Wishart directs, with Simon Finch as creative producer, Neil Grant as executive producer and Serena Kennedy as head of production. The documentary will also be free to non-subscribers on Sept.

The Ad Council and Covid Collaborative today announced new PSAs as part of their Covid-19 Vaccine Education Initiative’s “It’s Up To You” campaign featuring former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and former First Ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Rosalynn Carter.

The videos are designed to encourage all Americans to get answers to the top questions about the Covid-19 vaccines at GetVaccineAnswers.org and to get a vaccination when it’s available to them.

“Over the past year, the pandemic has taken an immeasurable toll on families all across the country and upended everyone’s lives,” said President Barack Obama. “Michelle and I got vaccinated against Covid-19 because we know it’s the best way to get the country back up and running again—and get us back to the moments we miss. We hope every American will do the same...

Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama appear in a new campaign introduced by the Ad Council encouraging Americans to get vaccinated.

The spots also feature former first ladies Rosalynn Carter, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama as part of the campaign called It’s Up To You.

But Donald Trump and Melania Trump are not featured.

A spokesperson for the Ad Council said that the project started back in December with the former presidents and noted that one of the spots was shot as Bush, Clinton and Obama gathered for the inauguration, which President Trump didn’t attend. That spot was shot at Arlington National Cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater.

“We just learned last week that President Trump did get vaccinated and were so pleased he advised Americans to ‘go get your shot,'” the spokesperson said.

The Carters did not attend the inauguration but are...