Sophia Bush Addresses Relationships with One Tree Hill Costars Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz

Bush, Burton and Lenz hosted the ‘Drama Queens’ podcast together from 2021 through 2024

Sophia Bush has spoken about the status of her relationship with One Tree Hill costars Bethany Joy Lenz and Hilarie Burton Morgan.

The actress and activist — who released her memoir, And I Will Tell You Mine: Notes from a Life in Progress, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, via Flatiron Books — speaks to PEOPLE about where she stands with her former podcast co-hosts on Drama Queens, which ran from 2021 through 2024.

“I mean, we’ve all known each other for, now longer than we were alive when we didn’t, and they’re some of the longest relationships of my life,” says Bush, 44. “One thing I really value is that no matter what anyone’s going through, we wait for each other.”

She adds, “I think that’s really important when you have friction or ease, that no matter what, you’re there, whether it’s easy or hard. That’s something I really do appreciate about all of us.”

Bush says that sentiment “extends to the whole collective of women” from One Tree Hill.

“We got a real gift in each other,” she says. “But it’s not a TV episode gift, it’s a real-life gift, and that comes with real-life stuff. It’s a lot of love that I have and that I know we all do for a long time.”

In her memoir, Bush recalls Burton, 44, warning her against dating Chad Michael Murray, whom she’d later marry and divorce, which caused distance between the pair.

However, in the years since, the women became closer again, supporting one another’s projects, sharing birthday wishes on social media and even teaming up for a One Tree Hill reboot. (Bush tells PEOPLE there’s no update on the project.)

They were last spotted together publicly, per fan-captured footage, at the Tree Hill Is Your Home 2 convention in October 2025.

Bush also writes about having a “complicated” relationship with Lenz, 45, during the days of One Tree Hill due to them seeing the world from opposite points of view. At the time, Lenz was deeply involved in a Christian group, which in the years since she has referred to as a “cult.”

Bush and Lenz “cared about each other,” but they had differences that “often put them at odds.” As they got older, Bush writes, they could have conversations about their belief systems.

“We’d come together, and then we’d take breaks,” the John Tucker Must Die star writes.

But amid any issues, Bush recalls they would “make time to have dinner, go on a beach walk or see a play.”

While appearing on Call Her Daddy in October 2024, Lenz acknowledged she “wasn’t equipped to get too close to Bush.”

“I was using religion as my benchmark,” she said at the time. “My budding friendship with sweet Sophia became a casualty of this, and instead of sitting shiva for my ego, I really f—ing wish I could turn back time, walk into her trailer, and give her a long, hard hug.”

In a September Instagram Reel, Bush and Lenz were seen supporting one another’s books at the One Tree Hill Anniversary Convention & Basketball Game in Wilmington, N.C.

On Call Her Daddy, Lenz also addressed her relationship with Burton, recalling they were close during filming, but admitting they experienced a falling out, despite the Dexter star remaining on Drama Queens.

“I love Hilarie, I have always and will always, and I don’t have any problem with her,” she said at the time. “There have been some bizarre misunderstandings that I really hope we can figure out one day, but I love that girl.”

Burton exited the Drama Queens podcast in July 2024, while Bush and Lenz stayed on as co-hosts with Robert Buckley, who joined the WB show in season 7.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Lenz said: “There aren’t many people in life with whom I can live through all the versions of myself, who has—and I believe will— continue to see the best in me. I see so many friendships outgrow each other or break before the breakthrough. I’m really proud of us for continuing to return to the table because it’s so worth it to find a friend where all the laughter and love has a hard-won gold mine underneath.”

She added that Bush is “hilarious and you really have to pry my funny friends from my cold, dead hands.”

PEOPLE has reached out to Burton for comment.

And I Will Tell You Mine: Notes from a Life in Progress is available now, wherever books are sold.

Via: People