Emotional debut: Sheinelle Jones honors late husband on first day as ‘Today’ co-host

Sheinelle Jones officially joined Jenna Bush Hager as co-host on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, signalling a fresh chapter in her career following years at NBC. Her debut episode was emotional, as she shared a text from her late husband, Uche Ojeh, mirroring his encouragement for her to take on this opportunity.

Sheinelle Jones felt the presence of her late husband, Uche Ojeh, during her debut as Jenna Bush Hager’s co-host on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle on Monday, January 12.

“I did not plan to share this, but I shared it with Jenna and she is having me share this with you,” Jones, 47, started during the episode. “So, when Hoda [Kotb] announced that she was leaving Uche always felt like, when we were in college, ‘Oh, you should do a show.’ He just felt like I should, and I used to be like, ‘Ugh, whatever.’”

A Text That Spoke Volumes

Jones further said, “And so when Hoda announced that she was leaving, he was really sick, and so he wasn’t talking as much. But I could talk to him and he would send me emojis and stuff like that, and that would be how we talked. And so I’ll show you a picture of the text that I just found from Uche from 2024.”

The screen featured a message from Ojeh that includes a screenshot of an article about Hoda leaving Today with emojis like thumbs up and fingers crossed.

“He felt like it was my turn to shine and to try … And that was almost two years ago,” Jones reflected through tears. “What you don’t see is that I didn’t respond to that … it didn’t even register for me. … And so now, it just feels like confirmation, because here we are two years later.”

Bush Hager, 44, cited that Ojeh is watching Jones’ first day and sending her love. Ojeh died at 45 in 2025 after battling with brain cancer.

“I know he’s looking down with your grandmother, who you also just recently lost … I wish [people] could see the studio, it’s never been this full. Not even when Mrs. Obama was here,” Bush Hager stated.

Guidance from Hoda Kotb

After almost 30 years at NBC, Kotb revealed her departure from the morning show in 2024 and formally stepped down in 2025. Almost a year later, Jones was revealed as her replacement.

Jones remembered getting a phone call from Kotb before the revelation:

“Last night obviously, as you guys can imagine, it was an emotional rollercoaster for me and my phone kept ‘zip, zip, zip, zip,’ and I’m like, ‘I can’t talk, Clara’s tapping or dancing,’ and it was Hoda,” Jones said in December 2025, referring to her daughter. She added, “And so I went out to the lobby, we had some time, and I said, ‘Hey,’ And she goes, ‘Don’t say anything just listen.’”

Kotb provided “45 seconds of wisdom that changed me.”

“She said, ‘You’re gonna be doing graduation speeches and all that.’ And she goes, ‘I promise you,’ she goes, ‘let’s remember this moment, you’re gonna talk about how this was a moment that changed your career and it was the best decision, for your kids, for you. Working with Jenna, it’s gonna be better than you could ever imagine,’” Jones remembered.

Surprise from Former Co-Hosts

On her first day, Jones and Bush Hager were joined by former co-hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, who offered a “wine torch,” a massive glass with fake flames.

“Can we just say how awesome you two look together? How amazing this day already is?” Kotb told the co-hosts. Jones reacted to Gifford, “First of all, you invented the genre, you really did,” as Gifford stated, “Is Kelly Ripa here?”

Jones remembered filling in for Kotb on previous shows, citing, “I would just sit under your head. I'm like, 'Look, she has melanin too!'” The four ladies toasted with rosé from Gifford's GIFFT brand. Gifford cited Jones a “pretty crier” and urged audiences to “lift up your wine at home!”

FAQs:

Q1. Who is Sheinelle Jones?
Sheinelle Jones is a television journalist and host who has worked at NBC for almost three decades. She is currently co-host of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.

Q2. What happened during her first episode?
Jones shared an emotional text from her late husband, Uche Ojeh, and mirrored personal losses. The debut includes guidance from Hoda Kotb and a surprise from Kathie Lee Gifford.