TODAY’s Sheinelle Jones is about to embark on a new chapter — and she intends to honor her late husband every step of the way.
During the December 9 edition of TODAY with Jenna & Friends, Jenna Bush Hager announced that her nearly year-long search for a permanent co-host during TODAY’s fourth hour had ended, with Jones slated to join the show beginning January 12. It was a joyous, emotional moment for both women when Jones walked onto the set to join her future partner for the first time on camera.
The 47-year-old mother of three recently returned to her NBC duties in Septembers after taking a leave of absence that dated back to December 2024 to be with her family. On May 23, news broke that Jones’ husband, Uche Ojeh, had passed away at the age of 45 after a battle with brain cancer.
Jones fully intends to keep Ojeh’s spirit alive with this new venture. During her first on-camera conversation with Hager since being announced as the new co-host, she revealed the heartfelt way she honored Uche while celebrating.
“When I came back from leave, I talked about fighting for my joy,” she explained. “This is what it looks like. It feels divine. It feels like Uche’s up there with God. He’s Mr. Competitive. He’s like, ‘Alright, let’s make this happen for Sheinelle.’ I put on his shirt this morning, and I said a little prayer, and I’m like, ‘Let’s go be with — not my friend, but my sister.”
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The star also passed along an inspirational message to viewers, acknowledging that it is okay to find joy moving forward, even while battling grief.
“For those of you who are holding something, whether it’s grief or pain or whatever you’re holding. I just want you to know, if you see me here, that means you can do it too. And we’re all gonna fight for our joy,” Jones explained. “If you see me laughing and when you see me having a good time with my sister-friend here. That means you can get up and conquer your day too.”
Watch Sheinelle Jones’ first TODAY appearance since being named the new co-host here.
Sheinelle Jones reveals the advice given to her by Hoda Kotb
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Jones, who officially starts filling the Hoda Kotb-sized hole left in the fourth hour of TODAY beginning January 12, revealed that Kotb actually called her after hearing the good news and passed along some indispensable advice.
“She gave me 45 seconds of wisdom that changed me,” Jones explained. “I’ll give you one part of it — she said, ‘I promise you, let’s remember this moment. You’re going to talk about how this was a moment that changed your career. And it was the best decision for your kids, for you,”
Unsurprisingly, Kotb had nothing but good things to say about her former on-screen co-host.
“She’s like, ‘Working with Jenna, it’s going to be better than you can ever imagine,” she told Hager. “You’re going to love it.”