Uche Ojeh, Today co-host Sheinelle Jones’ husband, has died at the age of 45.
Jones’ co-host Savannah Guthrie made the announcement live on air during Friday’s episode of the NBC morning program.
The Context
Jones joined the network in 2014 and became cohost of Today‘s third hour in 2019. The 47-year-old has been absent from the show since December and addressed her time away via Instagram in January.
“Hi everybody…I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I’ve been absent from the show. I want to share with you that I’m taking time to deal with a family health matter,” she said at the time. “It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my Today show family, but to also have all of you. Your kindness means so much to me. I’ll see you soon.”
Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for NAACP LDF
What To Know
Today show co-host Craig Melvin led Ojeh’s tribute on Friday.
“We talk a lot about how this place is like a family, and this morning, we have some heartbreaking news about someone who is very dear to us here at Today,” Melvin said.
Guthrie said: “With profound sadness, we share this morning that Uche Ojeh, the husband of our friend and Today co-host Sheinelle Jones, has passed away after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma.”
She continued, “There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. 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.”
Who Was Sheinelle Jones’ Husband, Uche Ojeh?
The couple met at Northwestern University in the 1990s when Jones was a freshman and Ojeh was a prospective student touring the campus.
In an interview with the college’s magazine published in winter 2024, the Pennsylvania native shared details about their meeting.
“I was a fake tour guide… I was just walking to class,” Jones told Northwestern Magazine. “[I was like, ‘Are you guys lost?’ And] I told him I would take him around because he was cute.”
Ojeh, a consultant, proposed on the campus where they met, and they got married in 2007. They have three children: son Kayin, 15, and twins Clara and Uche, 12.
What People Are Saying
Sheinelle Jones addressed her colleagues on Instagram: “Thank you, for all of your love and support.”
Today wrote in a comment on Jones’ post with over 300 likes: “We love you Sheinelle,” alongside an orange heart emoji.
Talk show host Sherri Shepherd commented: “Sheinelle sending you love & prayers.”
CBS News correspondent Norah O’Donnell commented: “Sending love to you and your family @sheinelle_o.”
Access Hollywood host Shaun Robinson commented: “What a blessing to have had such a perfect, wonderful partner. Sending you an abundance of love, my friend.”
Fashion and beauty expert Kahlana Barfield Brown commented: “I’m so incredibly sorry, Sheinelle. My heart is with you and your family. Sending you all my love and holding you close in my prayers.”
What Happens Next
It’s unclear when Jones will return to Today.
