Jenna Bush Hager Thought Her Husband Would Fall in Love with Guest Co-Host Scarlett Johansson: ‘Turns Out It Was Me’
Jenna Bush Hager was convinced her husband, Henry Hager, would be completely smitten when actress Scarlett Johansson stepped in as a guest co-host on Jenna & Friends.
However, much to her surprise, it wasn’t Henry who fell for the Black Widow star—it was Jenna herself!
The Today show co-anchor shared this amusing revelation during a recent Read with Jenna event in New York City.
While speaking to PEOPLE, she admitted that she had initially braced herself for Henry,
her husband of 16 years, to develop a crush on Johansson. Instead, it was Jenna who found herself captivated by the Hollywood star.
A Playful Prediction Gone Wrong
Jenna, 43, reflected on Johansson’s time as a guest co-host in January, saying, “I thought it was my husband that was going to fall in love with her, but it turns out it was me.” She and Henry, 46, have been married since 2008, and she joked that she expected him to be instantly charmed by Johansson. Instead, Jenna and Scarlett formed their own unexpected bond.
Henry and Jenna, who share three children, have always been open about their playful relationship. But when it came to Scarlett Johansson, Jenna couldn’t help but be drawn in.
Instant Connection on Jenna & Friends
Johansson’s time on the show wasn’t just about hosting duties—the actress and Jenna quickly developed a genuine friendship. One of the standout moments of their week together was a fun “Best Friends” game segment, where the two discovered they had more in common than expected.
During the game, they both revealed a preference for piercings over tattoos, which led to an impulsive decision—getting piercings together. “We were like, ‘Let’s just get our ears pierced together,’” Johansson told the audience at the time.
Jenna, known for her adventurous spirit, was fully on board with the idea. Johansson, who has a history of experimenting with piercings, shared her excitement about the spontaneous plan. “I have a lot of piercings,” she explained. “When I was a kid, I was just into piercings, and then I had my eyebrow pierced, my septum, my everything. It was just a thing. And so I think it’s been a minute since I got a piercing, so I’m excited to do it with you.”
The moment cemented their growing friendship, proving that sometimes the best connections happen in the most unexpected ways.
A Marriage Rooted in Love and Laughter
While Jenna’s bond with Johansson made for a fun and memorable experience, her marriage to Henry remains strong after more than a decade together. The couple, who met in the early 2000s and tied the knot at her family’s lakeside ranch in Texas, continue to support each other in all aspects of life.
At the Read with Jenna event on February 10, Jenna spoke about how literature allows her to experience romance in new ways. Discussing This Is a Love Story, a novel by Jessica Soffer that explores a decades-long relationship, Jenna admitted that reading love stories lets her live vicariously through fictional characters.
“I like reading a book like This Is a Love Story because it lets me sort of live among the romance of others when I’ve been married to somebody for 16 years,” she shared.
Though she and Henry have been together for a long time, Jenna still finds joy in stories of love and connection—whether through books or the unexpected friendships she forms on her show.
A Friendship That Stole the Spotlight
Johansson’s time on Jenna & Friends was meant to be a fun addition to the show, but it turned into something even more meaningful. Jenna may have thought Henry would be the one falling for Johansson, but in the end, it was her own admiration and friendship with the actress that stole the spotlight.
With their shared sense of humor and adventurous spirit, it’s clear that Jenna and Scarlett have built a bond that will last beyond their time on the show. Whether it’s through on-air games,
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