Brooke Shields Shares Hilarious Flood Incident with Bush Family

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Actress Brooke Shields recounted a humorous yet mortifying experience during a recent appearance on “Today with Jenna and Friends,” co-hosted by Jenna Bush Hager, the granddaughter of the late President George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush. Shield’s encounter at the Bushes’ home in Kennebunkport, Maine, is a sweet reminder of her unique relationship with the couple dating back to the 1980s.

“I met your grandparents in the ’80s. I was so young,” Shields said while recalling how she was invited to the White House for an Easterseals event. The connection between Shields and President Bush was heartwarming, as he took on a grandfatherly role during her early career. “Since I was quite young, he would give me boy advice—‘Okay, I like that one. I don’t like this one.’ It was a very sweet relationship that I needed to have but hadn’t had with anyone else,” she noted.

The actress’s most memorable incident with the Bush family occurred about 15 years ago when she was filming a movie in Boston. Shields received a mysterious phone call stating, “Excuse me, young lady. I hear you’re in the area. If you do not come to Kennebunkport, you are in trouble.” It was President Bush, whom she fondly referred to as Papa Bush.

Shields complied and brought her daughters, Rowan, now 21, and Grier, now 18, to the family’s Kennebunkport compound. However, while settling in, she encountered an unexpected crisis: the living room was flooding.

“I sneak downstairs to do the puzzle to relax, and as I get a beer, I noticed the water flooding in from the ocean,” she described. Panic set in as she rushed to grab towels and shut all doors. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to tell somebody,’ ” Shields recalled.

With a mix of urgency and trepidation, Shields decided to alert the Bushes. Upon entering their bedroom, she was mortified to see Barbara in her dressing gown. “I shielded my eyes and said, ‘I just want to let you know, excuse me! I think the house might have flooded, but I think I’ve got it,’” she recounted, squirming with embarrassment.

To her surprise, Barbara invited her to sit with them as they watched “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” “She was like, ‘George, maybe Brooke can answer this question. Ask her, ask her,’” Shields laughed while recalling how the couple shifted their focus onto her, creating a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere amidst the chaos.

As the couple indulged in the show, President Bush joked, asking, “Well, who do you think did it?” Shields quipped back, “I don’t know who did it, but it’s probably the person who you think least did it.” The conversation and laughter gradually eased her initial panic.

Reflecting on the experience, Shields said, “This is a moment of my life that was so special.” She later added that her efforts with towels had successfully prevented any significant damage, which drew a warm compliment from Barbara, who said, “Honey, she saved our house!”

Throughout the story, Jenna Bush Hager remarked about how her grandparents often played a significant supportive role for others, including President Bill Clinton, who also saw George as a father figure. “It’s so interesting; he was that person for a lot of people,” Bush Hager said.

As a poignant reminder, both George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush passed away in 2018, just months apart, leaving behind many cherished memories, including the unforgettable flood incident that Shields shared.