Jenna Bush Hager’s twin sister Barbara fights back tears as she reveals her ‘shame’ over being ’embarrassed’ at sharing a name with her late grandma – admitting she struggled with the ‘attention’ she received for having the same moniker as a First Lady

Jenna Bush Hager’s twin brother Barbara was overcome with emotion as she expressed regret over being ashamed of her name – which she shared with her late grandmother and former first lady, Barbara Bush.

The 41-year-old activist fought back tears as she made the moving confession during Thursday’s episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, which she co-hosted with her sister as they continued to promote their new book, Love Comes First.

The duo had been discussing baby names making a comeback when Barbara was quizzed about what it was like growing up with her name – confessing she felt ’embarrassed’ wearing the same one as her famous grandmother.

“It was complicated being a Barbara Bush in the 1990s because Ganny was the First Lady, so it attracted attention,” she said.

Former first and second lady Barbara died in April 2018 at the age of 92 at her home in Houston

She further admitted that she didn’t like the attention growing up but has gotten used to it nowadays.

“So when people in the 1990s say, Hey, Barbara Bush, how would that make you feel?” Jenna investigated.

“I would relapse,” Barbara replied, prompting Jenna to ask, “You were a little embarrassed?”

“Embarrassed to get attention,” Barbara said. “I didn’t want any attention.”

Then she started to choke up as she continued, “Of course, when Ganny died, I was in bed and I was ashamed that I felt that way, and proud that I had her name.”

When Jenna saw her sister burst into tears, she asked, “Are we crying yet?”

“Probably not, but maybe,” Barbara said.

Former first and second lady Barbara died at the age of 92 at her home in Houston on April 17, 2018, a month after being hospitalized for a fractured vertebra.

Twins Jenna and Barbara pictured with the former First Lady in their youth

Barbara admitted that she is now proud to bear the same name as her late grandmother

She was the first lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993, as the wife of George HW Bush, the 41st president of the United States, after previously serving as the second lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989.

She had six children of her own: former President George W. Bush; former Florida Governor Jeb Bush; businessman Neil Bush; businessman Marvin Bush; author Dorothy Bush Koch; and the late Pauline Robinson Bush, who died of leukemia at the age of three.

Barbara’s husband, George HW, died just seven months after his wife, following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Over the years, Jenna has shared many memories of her grandparents on the Today show, revealing earlier this year that her grandmother once sent her a “very crazy letter” scolding her for her bad behavior.

However, according to the host, it was her father, George W., who was to blame, with Jenna insisting he had encouraged her naughty antics.

“My grandmother once wrote us a very strange letter,” she said. “I was playing tennis and she was mad at my behavior… and my dad thought it was hilarious, so he still encouraged me.”

Over the weekend, Jenna and Barbara enjoyed a special dinner with just their parents, former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, for the first time in “a decade” as they celebrated their mother’s 77th birthday.

The 41-year-old twin sisters flew to their home state of Texas without their spouses and children for the meal, which was documented on Instagram.

Barbara pictured with her husband, President George HW Bush, in June 2012

Barbara co-hosted Thursday’s episode of Today with Hoda and Jenna as they continue to promote their new book, Love Comes First

Jenna and Barbara had dinner with just their parents – George W. and Laura Bush – for the first time in ‘ten years’ this weekend

Jenna shared a photo of herself and Barbara beaming as they sat across from their mom and dad, as well as a photo of their parents sitting next to each other.

‘Happy birthday to our dear mother! (We are) so happy that the four of us can spend the night! We love you so much! @laurawbush AND the happiest 46 years for our parents. I love you both!’ she wrote in the caption.

Jenna recounted the memorable moment on the Today show on Monday while chatting with her cohost Hoda Kotb about her whirlwind book tour in Texas, saying they made five stops in just three days.

“The four of us went out to dinner and what we realized is that I don’t think the four of us have been together in 20 years,” she explained.

“That’s an exaggeration,” she corrected herself. “But let’s say a decade, because I’ve had a husband for a long time, we’ve had children for ten years, Barbara has boyfriends and husbands, and so on and so forth.”