Scarlett Johansson and Jenna Bush Hager Get Matching ‘Best Friend Piercings’ Live on theTodayShow

Mar. 15, 2025

Jenna Bush Hager and Scarlett Johansson get matching piercings on ‘Today with Jenna & Friends’.Photo:TODAY with Jenna & Friends/YouTube

TODAY with Jenna & Friends/YouTube

Scarlett JohanssonandJenna Bush Hagermade their newfound friendship semi-permanent on Thursday, Jan. 23.TheBlack Widowstar, 40, who has been co-hostingToday with Jenna & Friendsall week, and Bush Hager, 43, both learned during a “Best Friends” game earlier in the week that they preferred piercings to tattoos.“We were like, ‘Let’s just get our ears pierced together!’” Johansson told the audience on Thursday. “So we have committed to that. Today we’re doing it.”Johansson shared that throughout her life she’s had a multitude of piercings all over her body.“I have a lot of piercings,” Johansson detailed. “When I was a kid, I just was 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.”Bush Hager added, “I have five here. I also had my bellybutton for a brief period. It got infected. It wasn’t great.”The talk show co-hosts brought in two expert piercers fromSo Gold Studiosfrom Brooklyn, N.Y. to do the piercings live on the air. Johansson went first and was candid about the experience.Scarlett Johansson gets her ear pierced on ‘Today with Jenna & Friends’.TODAY with Jenna & Friends/YouTube“I’m getting my third hole,” she said. “I will say, it is painful. A little bit painful.”Nervous after hearing Johansson’s commentary, Bush Hager held hands with the daughter of former presidentGeorge W. BushandLaura Bushas she got her own piercing. The ladies then showed off their new accessories on camera.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.In addition to the new matching piercings, Johansson has been loving life in the co-host chair.“This is my dream, dream job,” she gushed during Thursday’s episode. “It’s my favorite job I’ve ever had! It really is.”And Bush Hager admitted that her former co-host,Hoda Kotb, wholeft the showearlier this month after 17 years onToday, even noticed the pair’s chemistry.Jenna Bush Hager shows off her new piercing on ‘Today with Jenna & Friends’.TODAY with Jenna & Friends/YouTube“When I saw Hoda, she was like, ‘You and Scarlett,’ and I said, ‘I know!’ ” Bush Hager said, later sharing, “She was like, ‘I know, I’m kind of jealous about it.’ ”Johansson mirrored the sentiment whentalking to PEOPLEabout her experience, saying “It’s a complete dream. I was saying to Jenna earlier, it’s like that thing that I imagined as a 10-year-old: Some day I’m going to be on a daytime show and meet all of these amazing people.“The blockbuster actress added, “I mean, it’s a testament to what you guys have all built here that I’ve literally walked down the street and have gotten more traction from guest hosting theTodayshow than any other project that I’ve done!“Since Kotb’s exit, Bush Hager has had a series of celebrity guest hosts on the four hour of theTodayshow, includingTaraji P. Henson,Eva LongoriaandKeke Palmer. Sheannounced on Thursdaythat music starsKelsea Ballerini,Ciara,Jordin SparksandWynonna Juddwould all be filling in next week.

Scarlett JohanssonandJenna Bush Hagermade their newfound friendship semi-permanent on Thursday, Jan. 23.

TheBlack Widowstar, 40, who has been co-hostingToday with Jenna & Friendsall week, and Bush Hager, 43, both learned during a “Best Friends” game earlier in the week that they preferred piercings to tattoos.

“We were like, ‘Let’s just get our ears pierced together!’” Johansson told the audience on Thursday. “So we have committed to that. Today we’re doing it.”

Johansson shared that throughout her life she’s had a multitude of piercings all over her body.

“I have a lot of piercings,” Johansson detailed. “When I was a kid, I just was 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.”

Bush Hager added, “I have five here. I also had my bellybutton for a brief period. It got infected. It wasn’t great.”

The talk show co-hosts brought in two expert piercers fromSo Gold Studiosfrom Brooklyn, N.Y. to do the piercings live on the air. Johansson went first and was candid about the experience.

Scarlett Johansson gets her ear pierced on ‘Today with Jenna & Friends’.TODAY with Jenna & Friends/YouTube

“I’m getting my third hole,” she said. “I will say, it is painful. A little bit painful.”

Nervous after hearing Johansson’s commentary, Bush Hager held hands with the daughter of former presidentGeorge W. BushandLaura Bushas she got her own piercing. The ladies then showed off their new accessories on camera.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In addition to the new matching piercings, Johansson has been loving life in the co-host chair.

“This is my dream, dream job,” she gushed during Thursday’s episode. “It’s my favorite job I’ve ever had! It really is.”

And Bush Hager admitted that her former co-host,Hoda Kotb, wholeft the showearlier this month after 17 years onToday, even noticed the pair’s chemistry.

Jenna Bush Hager shows off her new piercing on ‘Today with Jenna & Friends’.TODAY with Jenna & Friends/YouTube

“When I saw Hoda, she was like, ‘You and Scarlett,’ and I said, ‘I know!’ ” Bush Hager said, later sharing, “She was like, ‘I know, I’m kind of jealous about it.’ ”

Johansson mirrored the sentiment whentalking to PEOPLEabout her experience, saying “It’s a complete dream. I was saying to Jenna earlier, it’s like that thing that I imagined as a 10-year-old: Some day I’m going to be on a daytime show and meet all of these amazing people.”

The blockbuster actress added, “I mean, it’s a testament to what you guys have all built here that I’ve literally walked down the street and have gotten more traction from guest hosting theTodayshow than any other project that I’ve done!”

Since Kotb’s exit, Bush Hager has had a series of celebrity guest hosts on the four hour of theTodayshow, includingTaraji P. Henson,Eva LongoriaandKeke Palmer. Sheannounced on Thursdaythat music starsKelsea Ballerini,Ciara,Jordin SparksandWynonna Juddwould all be filling in next week.

source: people.com