Originally published on 12/9/25

Sheinelle Jones has officially been named the co-host of Jenna & Friends—a.k.a. the fourth hour of the Today show. Jones will serve alongside Jenna Bush Hager and is expected to stop hosting the third hour of Today to help better focus her attention on the talk show, which has been renamed Jenna & Sheinelle. 

“This marks an exciting new chapter for the fourth hour,” Today executive vice president Libby Leist and Jenna & Friends executive producer Talia Parkinson-Jones said in a statement. “Jenna and Sheinelle are two extraordinary talents who have grown within the ranks of Today. They are beloved for their authenticity, warmth and genuine connection with our Today audience.”

But who exactly is Jones? And why did she step away from NBC News earlier this year? We take you inside her life, and share details on how she’s keeping joy in her life following the death of her husband, below. 

Get to know Sheinelle Jones 

Jones was born in Philadelphia in 1978. The journalist worked for several local news outlets before joining NBC News in 2019 as a coanchor on Weekend Today. She then moved over to the third hour, which she co-hosts with Craig Melvin, Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer. 

In May of this year, Jones’ husband of 17 years, Uche Ojeh, died of brain cancer at age 45—an experience the mother of three  called a “beautiful nightmare.” 

“The life that I’ve known since I was 19 is no more. I’ve always wanted kids and I have three kids of my own now and they’ve lost their dad. And I’m their mom. It sucks … It’s horrible. It’s just horrible,” she said in an interview with Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie. “My heart is shattered in a million pieces.” 

A look at how Sheinelle Jones found joy after loss 

Following Uche’s death, Jones took some time off and returned to 30 Rock in September. Since then, she has spoken very open and honestly about her loss and how she has continued to find joy in the little things. 

“Cancer doesn’t have to steal our joy,” Jones told Guthrie. “We can get up, we can get out of bed and we can go to work, we can go to school, we can squeeze the most out of the days that we have. And honestly, I feel like Uche’s heartbeat lives on in mine. So I owe it to him to just squeeze the most I can out of this thing.”

“If you see me now and you see me laughing, or you turn on the morning show and I’m laughing or having a good time, you root for me because I’m fighting for my joy,” she continued.

Now, Jones is back to work on the Today show and is supported by her colleagues, and friends. This includes her new cohost Bush Hager, who called Jones her “forever friend,” while announcing that Jones was going to be joining Jenna & Friends. 

“We have got a very special show today. Over the last year, you guys, I have had the privilege of co-hosting this show with 60 incredible friends, who’ve all opened up to me, who inspired me, I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve made some incredible friends and I’ve learned so much about myself,” Bush Hager said. “And you, the audience, have been with me for the entire time, so thank you so much.”

“Today I’m so thrilled to announce that I’ve found my forever friend and we’re gonna start a brand new journey in January. I couldn’t be more excited to share this person with you all,” she continued. “You all know her, she’s an extraordinary broadcaster. But more importantly, she exemplifies exactly what this show is all about.”

Viewers can still see  Jones on the third hour of Today alongside Melvin, Roker and Dreyer. Then, on January 12, Jenna & Sheinelle will launch and Jones will leave the third hour. 

“To have a show like this is beyond my wildest dreams,” Jones said. “This is the real deal, and I get to do it with Jenna.”

Link to original: https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/celebrities/sheinelle-jones-husband-death-how-shes-rebuilding-life-after-loss