A bold update is here: Sheinelle Jones is joining Jenna Bush Hager as the new fourth-hour co-host on TODAY, marking a clear shift after a lengthy audition period with 60 rotating contenders. On December 9, Jenna announced that Sheinelle will team up with her on the rebranded TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle, and beginning January 12, Sheinelle will become the fourth hour’s first permanent co-host since Hoda Kotb’s departure.
TODAY’s leadership—Libby Leist, the executive vice president, and Talia Parkinson-Jones, the executive producer of Jenna & Friends—celebrated the milestone, describing it as a new chapter for the hour. They praised Jenna and Sheinelle as two exceptional talents who have deep roots at TODAY and are beloved for their authenticity, warmth, and real connection with the audience.
At 47, Sheinelle will transition from TODAY’s third hour to partner with Jenna in the morning’s new format. The remaining top-line hosts—Craig Melvin, Al Roker, and Dylan Dreyer—will continue their roles at 9 a.m.
According to Leist and Parkinson-Jones, Sheinelle has long been a valued NBC News member, with more than a decade of work behind her. They highlighted her standout interviews and her memorable Halloween performances as Beyoncé and Tina Turner as examples of her ability to captivate viewers.
Sheinelle’s path to this role included a guest co-host stint on TODAY with Jenna & Friends in September, during which the hosts reminded viewers of their extensive history working together. She compared the experience to a promising date, joking that Jenna would likely invite her back. Jenna assured her, “You’re coming back.”
The guest co-host appearance came in the midst of Sheinelle’s personal life story, following the May passing of her husband, Uche Ojeh, at 45 from brain cancer. In a September 22 interview, Sheinelle opened up about returning to work after such a profound loss, describing how her life had entered a new normal.
To support her during that difficult time, Jenna surprised Sheinelle with a visit from “The Secret Society of Sheinelle”—six close friends who had stood by her side throughout the ordeal. Sheinelle expressed overwhelming gratitude, calling her sisters and village a lifeline that helped put her back together.
When TODAY launched Jenna & Friends on January 13, Sheinelle was among the 60 co-hosts and guests who joined the fourth hour’s new format. Among notable appearances, Oscar-nominated Taraji P. Henson hosted the inaugural episode and returned for another session on January 17.
Leist and Parkinson-Jones applauded Jenna and the Jenna & Friends team for keeping the show vibrant with a steady stream of guest co-hosts. They lauded Jenna’s ability to keep the program lively, even as she navigated what began as a rotation of 60 different contributors since January.
The roster of guest appearances over time included high-profile figures such as Michelle Obama, Ciara, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Kelsea Ballerini, and Cardi B, along with actors like Scarlett Johansson, Regina Hall, Rosie Perez, Leslie Bibb, Halle Berry, and Henry Winkler. Comedy talents from Saturday Night Live—Amy Poehler, Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman, Ana Gasteyer, Ego Nwodim, and Cheri Oteri—also joined, and comedians Tiffany Haddish, Chelsea Handler, Wanda Sykes, Leanne Morgan, and Nikki Glaser provided a steady stream of humor.
Jenna’s husband, Henry Hager, has appeared on multiple episodes, joining the TODAY family in various capacities.
For those who follow TODAY closely, Scott Stump—a longtime TODAY.com contributor and the writer of the daily This is TODAY newsletter—continues to deliver a wide range of content, from news and health to parenting and recipes, directly to readers’ inboxes. Stump has been a regular TODAY.com contributor since 2011, building features across pop culture, politics, health, and lifestyle.
