Sheinelle Jones is stepping back into Studio 1A.
Nearly four months after the Today host lost her husband of nearly 18 years, Uche Ojeh to cancer, she will be returning to the morning talk show series Sept. 5.
“We’ve got some other great news that we are so excited to share with you this morning,” Craig Melvin saidduring the Sept. 2 episode of Today. “It involves a member of our own Today family.”
Which led Craig’s cohost Savannah Guthrie to confirm their cohost’s return and to share how Sheinelle—mom to three kids with her late husband—is doing.
“We recently sat down together and shared a really personal conversation, talking about how she has carried on and found strength these past few months,” Savannah continued. “She calls this experience a ‘beautiful nightmare.’ She has thoughts on grief that are so touching, she’s got a special message of hope too for anyone facing their own struggles and we will share that with you.”
Savannah went on to gush over Sheinelle’s upcoming return, adding, “We cannot wait to welcome her home right where she belongs.”
Sheinelle’s return comes after it was announced in May that her husband had died following a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.
“There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children,” Savannah said following a touching tribute shared on Today at the time for Uche, who died at just 45. “Uche was an incredible person. We all loved him. And so we want to take a moment to tell you more about the remarkable man who was Sheinelle’s perfect partner in life.”
And Craig, for his part, emphasized how great of a father Uche was to his and Sheinelle’s children.
“One thing he always talked about—he talked about those kids,” Craig explained. “He loved those kids more than anything else in this world, and was just so proud.”
Following the Today tribute, Sheinelle, who began her leave of absence from the show in late 2024, shared a photo of her husband to her Instagram May 23, writing, “Thank you, for all of your love and support.”
For a deeper look into Sheinelle’s life with her late husband, keep reading…
(Today and E! News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Life Partners
Sheinelle Jones often spoke about how she met her husband Uche Ojeh while giving him a tour of campus at Northwestern University when she was just 19.
As Savannah Guthrie noted in Today’s May 23 tribute to the consultant, he was a “remarkable man who was Sheinelle’s perfect partner in life.”
Dedicated to Faith
Throughout his battle with glioblastoma, the Today anchors emphasized that Uche was devoted to his faith as well as his Nigerian heritage. In a post from 2021, Sheinelle shared that all three of their kids dressed in “native Nigerian wear” for their baptism.
That Guy
As the father of kids Kayin, and younger twins Clara and Uche Jr., Uche put his family first.
“He loved those kids more than anything else in this world,” Craig Melvin emphasized in Today’s tribute. “He was just so proud. He was that dad that was on the sidelines of every soccer game, all of the concerts, recitals. He was that guy.”
A “Humble Man”
During Today’s broadcast, Al Roker noted that while Uche was quiet, he was “wickedly funny,” adding, “He was a humble man.”
Biggest Supporter
In a birthday tribute to Uche in 2021, Sheinelle emphasized that her late husband was always by her side.
“When I put in his picture and click ‘search’ on my iPhone … pretty much ALL of the pics, are of him by my side,” she explained on Instagram. “And/or helping the kids with homework, music or soccer lessons. I am truly thankful to be on this journey with such a beautiful human being.”
Going the Distance
In the Today segment honoring Uche, Savannah emphasized that Sheinelle and Uche overcame obstacles including long distance to make their romance work. And for Sheinelle, it was all worth it. As she wrote in a tribute post to Uche in 2022, “You caught my eye when I was 19 years old …. and here we are.”
Warriors
Amid their hardest battle together, Savannah emphasized that both Sheinelle and Uche were “warriors.”
As Savannah emphasized, Uche was “a man whose joyful spirit and quiet strength complemented Sheinelle in every way.”
Saying Goodbye
In a post following the segment announcing Uche’s tragic death, Sheinelle wrote, “Thank you, for all of your love and support.”
