Jenna Bush Hager says NBC discouraged her from saying this when she joined network

Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager are giving "Today" show viewers a backstage pass to work at 30 Rock.

During a discussion on NBC's "Today with Hoda & Jenna," on Monday, Hager revealed a surprising critique she received when she joined the network as a "Today" correspondent and contributor in 2009.

Hager said the network initially told her to stop saying the phrase "hey, y'all" because it's not "for the whole country." But "it's who I am," she said.

"It's so weird, and this happens in life, too. If you have friends and then, all of a sudden, you're acting not who you are, and you’re like, 'Wait.' Something in your gut feels wrong."

The comments from the network didn't stop Hager from being authentically herself. The laid-back morning show host is known to say "y'all" on occasion, even saying it later in Monday's episode.

"How can we teach our kids just to be perfectly happy as they are?" Hager asked. Kotb acknowledged that "it took me longer than it took you" to discover who she is.

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Hager said when she pretended to be a "newsperson," she "felt like I was acting."

"You try to pretend like you're somebody else, (and) it feels crazy," Hager said.

Hager, who joined NBC a year after her dad George W. Bush's presidency ended, was formerly a teacher. During her 15-year career at the network, she has risen through the ranks and replaced Kathie Lee Gifford on the fourth hour of "Today" in April 2019. The same year, she launched her popular monthly book club Read with Jenna.

Hager will continue hosting the fourth hour on "Jenna & Friends" with a slew of rotating fill-in co-hosts starting Jan. 13, when Kotb departs the network, until a permanent host is named.

Kotb announced her departure from "Today" in late September and later told the morning show's audience that her last day would be Jan. 10.

"That'll be the party day, so we're going to throw a party," Kotb told viewers.

She will be replaced on the first two hours of "Today" by Craig Melvin, who will co-host the show with Savannah Guthrie and continue his hosting duties on the third hour of "Today" opposite Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones.

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Brendan Morrow

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jenna Bush Hager says NBC told her to stop saying 'y'all'