Jenna Bush Hager Praises ‘Today’ Show Co-Host Sheinelle Jones’ ‘Openness’ After Husband’s Death: ‘Pretty Empowering’

Jenna Bush Hager has shared a heartwarming tribute to "Today" co-host Sheinelle Jones, revealing how she found a "sister" in her new on-air sidekick, just days after the pair began appearing together as the stars of the fourth hour of the morning show.

Jones, 47, who lost her husband, Uche Ojeh, to brain cancer in May, was announced as the new permanent co-star of the final segment of the morning show in December—more than a year after her predecessor, Hoda Kotb, announced that she was quitting to spend more time with her children.

At the time, Jones said she felt that her late husband had a hand in her decision to take the prestigious role, adding that she knew he would be proud to know she was forging ahead with her career.

Jones then bid farewell to her third hour co-hosts, Craig Melvin, Dylan Dreyer, and Al Roker, before beginning her position on the official premiere of "Today With Jenna & Sheinelle" on Jan. 12.

Now, after just two weeks of co-hosting duties, Hager has praised the network's decision to elevate Jones to the role, noting that it has provided a level of "openness" for viewers to connect to.

While speaking to Good Housekeeping, Hager lifted the lid on why she thinks Jones was a perfect fit for the final slot of the "Today" show.

“[Compassion and empathy] is in the ethos of the DNA of what the show has been since the genesis—even before I was part of it. There's an openness, we hope, to the flow of the fourth hour. And if Sheinelle feels comfortable sharing, I am going to be part of it. I think it’s so beautiful, and you know, many people are hurting in our world for a variety of reasons," she said.

"So, to have somebody who obviously is going through real grief, but also can show up, start something new, be joyful every day, at least outwardly, it's pretty empowering for people."

Hager also revealed that having Jones on set with her has strengthened their friendship, telling fans she now considers her co-host a "sister."

"I think ['Today With Jenna and Sheinelle'] is proof that you can always fall in love again and create new friendships. When Hoda and I started, we were definitely friendly, and I adored her. But by the time it was over, we had a totally different relationship.

"But Sheinelle and I, we’ve known each other for a decade-plus and have been friends—it’s a totally different thing. But even week one has been amazing, and I hope this just shows people that you’re never too late to meet a sister," she added.

Just days after she began her new on-air role alongside Hager, Jones admitted that she still feels like she is "swimming through mud" as she continues to grapple with balancing her grief over the death of her husband with her new role as co-star of the morning show's fourth hour.

Although Jones has been celebrating her big on-screen "win," she confessed that, behind the scenes, her heartbreak has anything but subsided.

In an emotional interview with People, Jones lifted the lid on the misconception that she is doing better now that she is back on air, while revealing how she is helping her children—Kayin, 16, and twins Clara and Uche, 13—get through the pain of losing their dad.

“People see me on TV and they think ‘Oh, she’s better.’ It’s like, ‘Oh, no no. I’m not better,’" she admitted. "Every day, it’s like swimming through mud. I’ve had to really do the work. Empathy is my superpower now, and I recognize that I hold two things: I hold my grief, and I also hold this joy. I said it months ago, and I’ll say it now: I am fighting for my joy."

The mom explained that she tries her best to console her kids, adding that she reminds them how lucky they were to share the time they did with their dad, even if it was cut short.

“My kids lost their dad at 13 and 16, but I try to tell them they got more in those years than some people get in a lifetime," she explained.

Still, Jones confessed that, as a "woman of faith," she is struggling to come to terms with the "why" behind her loss, revealing that she never even considered what life would be like without her husband.

“Not once did I think I was going to lose him," she said, adding that she has had to "really dig deep and realize that maybe I just don't fully understand."

"I still don't know if I have the answer, but I have peace that passes all understanding. That's a Bible verse. It doesn't mean that it's easier. It doesn't mean that my grief is not excruciating," she added.

Despite still struggling with the devastating loss, Jones noted that she does find joy and comfort alongside Hager.

"Jenna and I look at each other and we're safe. If I fall, she's going to pick me up and vice versa. If I told you the depth of my groans and tears just months ago to one of the best days of my life here today, you couldn't even write it," Jones explained.

Hager echoed Jones' thoughts, telling the outlet that she is constantly surprised by how "effortlessly" Jones carries herself on screen, even as she's dealing with a huge weight behind the scenes.

"I'm witnessing Sheinelle do this so effortlessly, and I know it's not. I know it's actually really hard, but she's doing it. And she's really such a reminder to all of us that joy and heartbreak can be held at the same time and that we have to find moments of joy and celebration even in darkness," she said.

When it was announced that Jones was moving to the fourth hour, she explained how much it meant to her to have the support of the "Today" team, particularly after she took time out to care for her husband in the final weeks of his cancer battle.

“When I came back from leave, I talked about fighting for my joy," she said. "This is what it looks like. It feels divine. It feels like Uche’s up there with God, like, he’s Mr. Competitive, like, ‘All right, 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.'"

Jones took an extended break from the NBC morning show while her husband was undergoing treatment, announcing in January 2025 that she would be absent from screens, explaining at the time that she was dealing with a family health matter.

The mother of three announced four months later that her husband of nearly 20 years had died.

Though Jones did not appear on the "Today" show to announce the news of her husband's death, her co-host, Guthrie, shared the devastating development with viewers in an on-air statement.

"With profound sadness, we share this morning that Uche Ojeh, the husband of our dear friend and 'Today' co-host Sheinelle Jones, has passed away after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma," Guthrie told viewers at the time.

"There are no words for the pain that we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. Uche was an incredible person. We all loved him."

Jones officially returned to her role as the co-host of the third hour of "Today" alongside Roker and Dreyer later that month.

Jones and Ojeh tied the knot in 2007 and were living together at a stunning property in Livingston Manor, NY, when the "Today" host stepped back from her hosting duties to support her husband.

The couple are understood to have purchased the dwelling for just under $1.4 million in December 2020.

The home offers 4,762 square feet of living space on 53 acres with a "large stocked pond" and an in-ground heated pool, according to its original listing description.

Inside the property, there is a library, a formal dining room, and an enormous primary suite, in addition to a four-bedroom, two-bath guesthouse.

It's thought that Jones and her family moved into the home after returning from a five-month getaway in South Carolina, where they quarantined during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.