Jenna Bush Hager Set To Make Acting Debut In A Hallmark Christmas Movie

We have become accustomed to tuning our television sets to Hallmark Channel in October and not changing the channel until January 1. That is because that is when the network, as well as their sister network Hallmark Mystery, become nonstop broadcasters of all things holly, jolly, and merry thanks to Countdown to Christmas. 

While the full schedule isn’t out just yet, they have been giving us little nuggets of all of the tinsel-coated joy that is coming our way soon. We already know that two fan favorites, Lacey Chabert and Kristoffer Polaha will team up for the first time in The Christmas Quest. We also know that When Calls the Heart Stars, Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing will reunite for Santa Tell Me, and last month we learned that Tyler Hynes, Hunter King, and Ed Begley Jr. will star in Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, which has the network teaming up with Super Bowl Champs, Kansas City Chiefs. 

Well, this morning on TODAY, we heard another bit of news regarding this flick. Jenna Bush Hager is joining the cast. That’s right, she will make her acting debut on Hallmark this holiday season. The Texas native surprised her co-anchors on the couch donning a Santa hat, a dress in the style of a Chiefs’ jersey (Travis Kelce’s jersey to be exact), waving a stack of papers. “Here's the script, but it's top secret," she told her colleagues. She was able to divulge that she will have a speaking role but couldn’t say more than that. 

Despite Hager’s original guess, the movie is not the true love story of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. This story is entirely fictional. Per the official logline, in Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, Alana Higman (King) enters her family of Kansas City Chiefs superfans in the team’s “Fan of the Year” contest. That’s how she meets Derrick (Hynes), Director of Fan Engagement, who is tasked with evaluating how Alana and her family stack up against the other two finalists. Sparks fly as the pair spends time together… that is, until her grandfather’s vintage Chiefs hat goes missing. 

“Alana begins to doubt everything she believes about fate, destiny and even questions her future with Derrick—unless, that is, a little Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary,” the synopsis teases.

The movie is being filmed entirely on location in Kansas City, including at the home stadium of the Chiefs, Arrowhead Stadium. This holiday season, we’re all about to join Chiefs Nation.