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After nearly a year of rotating guests and “first dates” on live TV, Sheinelle Jones has been named the permanent co-host of the fourth hour of NBC’s TODAY alongside Jenna Bush Hager.
On Tuesday (December 9), it was announced that the show will debut under its new title, TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle, on January 12.
Jenna shared the news on Tuesday with visible excitement — and a few tears. “You all know her — she’s an extraordinary broadcaster, but more importantly, she exemplifies exactly what this show is all about,” she told viewers as she welcomed Sheinelle into the studio. The two embraced as Sheinelle responded emotionally, calling the moment “beyond my wildest dreams.” She added, “I get to do it with Jenna. You couldn’t write this script.”
Sheinelle will leave her seat on the 3rd Hour of TODAY to join Jenna full-time. She has been part of NBC News for more than a decade, building a reputation for standout interviews, memorable lifestyle segments, and the viral Halloween performances that have seen her transform into Beyoncé, Tina Turner, and more. She also returned to work last September after the death of her husband, Uche Ojeh, who passed away from brain cancer in May.
On Tuesday, Sheinelle shared that the first people she told about her new role were her three children — Kayin, 16, and 13-year-old twins Clara and Uche. “There was so much joy in our house, and we needed that joy,” she said.
Sheinelle was one of 60 co-hosts and guests who have joined Jenna over the past year — a mix of actors, comedians, musicians, journalists, and even First Lady Michelle Obama.
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