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Sheinelle Jones Joins Jenna Bush Hager as Permanent Co-Host of “TODAY’s” Fourth Hour
NEW YORK, NY – The “TODAY” show officially announced on Tuesday that Sheinelle Jones will be stepping into a permanent co-hosting role for the fourth hour of the network’s flagship morning show, joining Jenna Bush Hager. The newly rebranded “TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle” will see Jones, 47, officially begin her new duties on January 12th.
This appointment marks the first permanent co-host for the fourth hour since Hoda Kotb’s departure in January of last year.
“This marks an exciting new chapter for the fourth hour,” stated Libby Leist, “TODAY” Executive Vice President, and Talia Parkinson-Jones, Executive Producer of “Jenna & Friends,” in a joint 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.”
Jones will transition from her current role on the third hour of “TODAY,” though Craig Melvin, Al Roker, and Dylan Dreyer will continue as co-hosts of the 9 a.m. program.
The announcement comes nearly a year after the departure of Kotb, a beloved figure at NBC News’ “TODAY” for almost two decades. Kotb has maintained various roles within NBC, including hosting “TODAY’s” podcast “Making Space” and co-anchoring the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Since Kotb’s exit, Bush Hager has welcomed a rotating cast of celebrities to co-host the fourth hour, then known as “Jenna and Friends.” Notable co-hosts have included Michelle Obama, Tyra Banks, Andy Cohen, Scarlett Johansson, and Jones herself.
“I’ve made some incredible friends, and I’ve learned so much about myself, and you, the audience, have been with me for the entire time. So thank you so much,” Bush Hager expressed at the top of Tuesday’s show.
“Today, I am so thrilled to announce I have found my forever friend, and we are going to start a brand new journey in January.” Bush Hager also shared that she has known Jones for a decade, anticipating that “to get to fall even more in love with her will be, I think, a beautiful chapter in this show.”
Jones, who initially joined “Weekend TODAY” in 2014 and became a co-host of “TODAY’s” third hour in 2019, temporarily stepped away from the show earlier this year due to a family health matter. Her husband of 17 years, Uche Ojeh, passed away in May at the age of 45 after a battle with brain cancer.
In a September interview with Savannah Guthrie ahead of her return to “TODAY,” Jones candidly discussed the loss, describing his death as “a beautiful nightmare.” She reflected, “We don’t move on, but we move forward with our loved ones. I hope that just by me being on the set and me returning to work, it’s like, ‘OK, if I can do it, so can you, right?'”
On Tuesday, Jones again addressed her husband’s passing and her journey back to “TODAY.” “For those of you who are holding something, whether it’s grief or pain or whatever you’re holding, I just hope you know that if you see me here, that means you can do it too.
And we’re all going to fight for our joy,” she shared. “When you see me laughing and when you see me having a good time with my sister, friend, here, it means you can get up and to conquer your day too.
That’s what we’re going to do.” Jones and her late husband share three children: their eldest son, Kayin, and twins, Uche and Clara.
“Sheinelle has been a cherished member of NBC News for more than 11 years,” Leist and Parkinson-Jones reiterated in their statement. “From standout interviews with newsmakers and celebrities to her iconic Halloween performances as Beyoncé and Tina Turner, she has captivated audiences time and again.”
Bush Hager, one of former President George W. Bush’s daughters, joined “TODAY” as a correspondent in 2009 and began co-hosting the fourth hour with Kotb in 2019, following Kathie Lee Gifford’s departure.
Jones revealed on Tuesday that Kotb offered her advice on the night of the announcement. “‘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,'” Jones recounted. “She was like ‘working with Jenna – it’s going to be better than you can ever imagine.
You’re going to love it.'”