Sheinelle Jones is going through a heartbreaking loss
The Today cohost—who has been absent from the morning show in recent months—lost her husband Uche Ojeh after a battle with glioblastoma, Savannah Guthrie announced on Today May 23.
“With profound sadness we share this morning that Uche Ojeh, the husband of our dear friend and Today cohost Sheinelle Jones has passed away after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma,” Guthrie said during the May 23 broadcast. “There are no words for the pain that we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children.”
The couple tied the knot in 2007 and are parents to Kayin Ojeh, 15, and 12-year-old twins Clara Ojeh and Uche Ojeh.
“Uche was an incredible person,” Guthrie continued. “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.”
The broadcast continued to reflect on Jones’ life with Ojeh, calling him her “perfect match” detailing how his “joyful spirit and quiet strength” was an ideal compliment for the Today anchor.
The couple had met as teenagers at Northwestern University, and went on to tie the knot in 2007 before welcoming their three children.
“Uche was the kind of person who brought light, warmth and joy to every room,” Guthrie noted in Today‘s tribute. “Today with heavy hearts we celebrate his life, devoted husband, loving father, and a man whose generosity of spirit touched all who knew him.”
Earlier this year, Jones addressed her absence from Today in a message to fans.
“Hi everybody…I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I’ve been absent from the show,” she wrote in a January Instagram post. “I want to share with you that I’m taking time to deal with a family health matter.”
“It’s not lost on [me] how lucky I am to have not only the support of my Today Show family,” the journalist added, “but to also have all of you. Your kindness means so much to me. I’ll see you soon.”
Jones’ colleagues Craig Melvin and Savannah also addressed her absence on Today‘s January 15 episode.
“We know so many of you have been asking about Sheinelle and missing her,” the coanchors said, “and we miss her too.”
Upon announcing the loss of Ojeh, the coanchors emphasized they were sending “all of their love” to Jones and her family.
“One thing he always talked about,” Melvin, who mentioned he played golf with Ojeh last fall, shared during the memoriam segment. “He talked about those kids. He loved those kids more than anything else in this world. 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.”
Meanwhile Al Roker added, “He was a quiet guy, but he was wickedly funny.”
As he put it, “He was a very humble man.”
Jones herself was not present to deliver the heartbreaking news, but in early May, Today‘s Dylan Dreyer shared an update on her friend.
“She’s doing all right,” she told E! News at the 2025 Kentucky Derby. “She’s hanging in there. We’re praying for her and her family. You know, she’s just going through a tough time with her family.”
“We talk to her every day,” Dreyer noted. “One of us on the team talks to her every single day, and we’re there to support her, and we’ll welcome her back with open arms the second she can get back to us.”
Keep reading for a look back at Jones and Ojeh’s life together…
(E! and Today 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.”
