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Jenna on new magazine gig: I miss the slow Southern way

Jenna Bush Hager, a contributing correspondent for TODAY, has been named as an editor-at-large for the leisure and lifestyle magazine, Southern Living.She will write for its “Paper Napkin Interview” column, which involves interviewing cultural influencers who are from the South, and she'll write for a blog called “The Daily South.”Hager, the daughter of former President George W. Bush and

Jenna Bush Hager, a contributing correspondent for TODAY, has been named as an editor-at-large for the leisure and lifestyle magazine, Southern Living.

She will write for its “Paper Napkin Interview” column, which involves interviewing cultural influencers who are from the South, and she'll write for a blog called “The Daily South.”

Hager, the daughter of former President George W. Bush and a University of Texas alumna, described the role as a good fit that will allow her to return to her roots.

“I am kind of a homesick Southern person, a Texan living here in New York,” she told TODAY’s Matt Lauer on Wednesday. “I love New York. I love the energy of it. I love the fast-paced nature of New York, but I do miss the slow Texas way.”

Her first assignment for the magazine will be an interview with country music star Luke Bryan. The piece is scheduled for the March issue, according to the magazine.

Southern Living editor-in-chief Lindsay Bierman said he was “instantly charmed by Jenna’s style and charisma,” adding that, “[Jenna's] Texas roots, passion for the South and proven reporting chops make her a natural fit for the brand." 

Hager, 31, said her age will allow her to “talk about what the new generation of Southern women are doing, which is balancing a lot.” She will continue her role as a TODAY correspondent. 

Hager said she grew up with Southern Living as a staple in her home. 

“My mom read it. She’s not much of a cook, but she would dream over the recipes, I think, of somebody else cooking them for her,” she said.

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