Jamaica was placed firmly in the global spotlight as Today aired two special episodes from Ocho Rios, delivering a multi-day showcase of the island’s culture, music and cuisine to millions of viewers.
Hosted by Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones, the broadcasts combined travel, entertainment and storytelling into an immersive look at Jamaica’s visitor experience—from river excursions and waterfalls to nightlife and local dining. Framed as a lively “girls trip,” the segments offered a light entry point while capturing a more layered view of the island’s energy and identity.
Among the featured stops was Miss T’s Kitchen, recently named the 2025 Best of Jamaica Restaurant in Ocho Rios, placing one of the area’s standout culinary spots on a global platform.
A Showcase of What Jamaica Does Best
Across two days of broadcasting from Ocho Rios, Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones moved through a packed slate of experiences that went well beyond a typical studio segment.
The itinerary blended some of Jamaica’s most recognisable attractions with everyday moments—tubing along the White River, climbing Dunn’s River Falls, beachside downtime, and late-night dancing on the sand. The tone remained light, but the coverage consistently returned to the core of the Jamaican experience: movement, music, and food.
That energy carried through the music, with appearances and features tied to global Jamaican acts like Shaggy and Sean Paul, reinforcing how deeply Jamaican sound is embedded in global pop culture. Food, however, was the constant thread—from local dishes to casual staples—capturing both the variety and everyday accessibility of Jamaican cuisine. As the hosts themselves noted, much of their time was spent eating, exploring flavours, and reacting in real time to what was in front of them.
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From Best of Jamaica to NBC: Miss T’s Kitchen
Among the local spots featured during the broadcast was Miss T’s Kitchen, which was highlighted as part of the show’s exploration of Jamaican food and dining culture. The inclusion is notable—not only because of the show’s scale, but because Miss T’s was recently named the 2025 Best of Jamaica Restaurant in Ocho Rios, making its appearance a natural extension of that recognition.
Known for its authentic, home-style Jamaican cooking, Miss T’s has built a strong following among both locals and visitors. Its feature on the Today Show places that experience in front of an international audience, offering a glimpse into the kind of everyday culinary spaces that define Jamaica beyond the resorts.
In many ways, the moment reinforces what continues to resonate with travellers—food that is rooted, familiar, and distinctly Jamaican. For Miss T’s Kitchen, it marks a shift from local acclaim to global visibility, while still representing the same cultural experience that earned it recognition in the first place.
A Timely Moment for Jamaica
The timing of the “girls trip’ feature sponsored by Sandals Resorts and the Jamaica Tourist Board adds another layer. Jamaica is welcoming visitors again following the impact of Hurricane Melissa, and moments like this help reinforce what remains unchanged—the warmth of its people, the richness of its culture, and the consistency of its experience.
That message came through directly during the broadcast. Reflecting on the island’s pull, Jenna Bush Hager noted that “you can’t come here once and think that’s enough… you come back year after year,” while Sheinelle Jones pointed more directly to what underpins that experience, noting that “the strength of the people out here are so much stronger,” adding that what stood out most was a sense of “hope and… resilience.”
There was also a personal thread running through the production. Jamaican-born NBC producer Talia Parkinson-Jones returned home as part of the show, adding a layer of familiarity and connection. The broadcast also featured Emmy-winning actress and 2026 TIME Women of the Year honouree Sheryl Lee Ralph (OJ), often regarded as one of Jamaica’s most prominent cultural ambassadors and our 2024 Person of the Year.
A Bigger Spotlight on Jamaica
While Miss T’s Kitchen may have been one of the standout features, the impact of the broadcast extends far beyond a single restaurant.
From small, locally rooted businesses to the island’s music, food and everyday experiences, the Today Show feature placed Jamaica’s culture—unfiltered and authentic—at the centre of a global conversation. It reinforced what continues to set the island apart: not just its landscapes, but the people, the flavour, and the lived experience that visitors connect with.
At a time when Jamaica is rebuilding and welcoming the world again, that visibility matters. It is a reminder that the island’s strength lies in its culture and its communities—and when given the platform, both resonate far beyond its shores.
