Scarlett Johansson, the celebrated actress known for her roles in films like *Marriage Story* and *Avengers*,
recently fulfilled a childhood dream that not many of her loved ones knew she had.
The 40-year-old star made her debut as a guest co-host on the January 21 episode of *Today With Jenna & Friends*, alongside Jenna Bush Hager.
For Johansson, stepping into this role was a surreal moment, one that took her back to her childhood aspirations of becoming a morning show host.
“I cannot believe it,” Johansson exclaimed as she joined Bush Hager on the show.
“And more importantly, everyone in my life can’t quite believe it either. … The people that knew me very well were like, ‘You are living your dream. I am so happy for you.’ The people that did not know me as well were like, ‘What’s going on? Are you OK?’”
As a child, Johansson would often pretend to be a TV host, using a shampoo bottle as a microphone. She fondly recalled looking at herself in the mirror and imagining herself saying things like, “Good morning, everyone, and I hope you had a wonderful weekend. What’s happening in your neck of the woods?”
Interestingly, Bush Hager, 43, had dreams that seemed to run parallel but opposite to Johansson’s. “Your life was my dream. I wanted to be a Broadway star, but I was not talented,” Bush Hager confessed, humorously sharing how she once tried out for *Les Misérables*, despite not having the singing skills she believed were necessary. She added, “I wasn’t talented. I can’t sing, for one, but my mom would drive me to try out for Les Misérables even though I was, like, kind of a chunky Texas [kid]. Not my vibes.”
Johansson’s co-hosting stint on *Today With Jenna & Friends* is part of a wider rotation of celebrity guest hosts, following Hoda Kotb’s exit earlier in January. Johansson is the fifth celebrity to step in for Kotb, joining a lineup that has included Taraji P. Henson, Eva Longoria, Keke Palmer, and Michelle Buteau. The actress will co-host the show through Friday, January 24, 2025.
To kick off Johansson’s time on the show, she and Bush Hager engaged in a light-hearted game called “Best Friends Five.” When asked whether they are early risers or night owls, Johansson admitted that her late-night tendencies made it hard for her to wake up early for the show. “My phone was on silent, which was really cool. I barely slept a wink last night because I was going, ‘Oh, my gosh. My alarm’s not gonna go off,’” Johansson explained, adding that her waking moment was a mix of confusion and rush. “I woke up to pee, and I was [like], ‘Why is it daylight outside?’ And that was how I woke up this morning, so I rushed here.”
Later, Johansson revealed a playful side as she joked about her husband, Colin Jost, and Bush Hager’s husband, Henry Hager. When Bush Hager mentioned receiving romantic letters from her spouse, Johansson teased, “I feel gypped,” humorously comparing her own relationship. The couple, who married in 2020, share a son, Cosmo, 3, while Johansson also has a 10-year-old daughter, Rose, from her previous marriage to Romain Dauriac.
Johansson has long expressed her admiration for the *Today* show, and her guest-hosting experience has been the culmination of that childhood dream. She previously got to live out a similar fantasy in November 2024 when she joined Al Roker to assist with a weather report. After sharing a hug with the weatherman, Johansson jokingly asked, “Did I get the job?” showcasing her playful, down-to-earth nature.
Her latest appearance on the show is a reminder of how stars like Johansson continue to break boundaries and fulfill their dreams, whether it’s on the big screen or as a co-host on a beloved morning talk show. For her, being part of *Today With Jenna & Friends* is not just about stepping into the limelight, but about embracing the excitement of a childhood passion now realized.
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