""Uche always felt like when we were in college, like, 'Oh you should do a show.' He just felt like I should and I'd be like, 'Oh whatever, whatever,'" Sheinelle shared while holding back tears. "And so when Hoda announced that she was leaving, he was really sick. And so he wasn't talking as much, but I could talk to him and he would send me emojis and stuff like that. And that would be how we talked," Sheinelle continued."
""There was an article that said that Hoda was going to depart and he felt like it was my turn to shine, and to try," Sheinelle said through tears. "So underneath it he put those pictures and the strong arm emojis and all the things." Sheinelle said, "What you don't see is that I didn't respond to that." "The best part of the whole thing is that her response is about him," Jenna added as she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue."
Sheinelle Jones began her first day as co-host of TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle by sharing a poignant story about her late husband, Uche Ojeh. After 17 years of marriage, Ojeh died in May 2025 at age 45 following a battle with brain cancer. Ojeh had long encouraged Jones to pursue hosting, and Jones found a 2024 text beneath an announcement that Hoda Kotb was leaving containing eight emojis — two grimacing faces, two thumbs up, two crossed fingers and two flexed biceps. Jones did not initially respond because she prioritized his treatment. Jenna Bush Hager encouraged Jones to share the moment on air, and Jones became emotional while recounting it.
Read at TODAY.com
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