The host.
Photo: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
NBC didn’t have to look too far to find its next co-host. Sheinelle Jones will now anchor the fourth hour of NBC’s morning talk show with Jenna Bush Hager. Beginning in the new year, the program will be called Today With Jenna & Sheinelle. Jones is currently working on the Today’s third hour, where she’s been since January 2019. An NBC stalwart, she previously worked from 2014 to ’19 on Today’s weekend portion of the show. When Jones moves to her new spot, Craig Melvin, Al Roker, and Dylan Dreyer will continue covering the 9 a.m. slot as a trio. Jones will be the first Black co-host of the “fourth hour,” a position that was previously held by Ann Curry, Natalie Morales, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Hoda Kotb.
Hager shared the good news during the December 9 episode of Today, tearing up before she even revealed the lucky broadcaster. “Today, I am so thrilled to announce I have found my forever friend and we are gonna start a brand-new journey in January,” Hager said. “You all know her, she’s an extraordinary broadcaster, but more importantly, she exemplifies exactly what this show is all about.”
An emotional Jones was similarly overwhelmed while the two chatted. “God, a year ago at this time was tough for me,” Jones said, referring to the death of her husband, Uche Ojeh, following an illness. Jones returned to air in September after a break. “It feels divine,” she expressed. “It feels like Uche’s up there with God. He’s Mr. Competitive, like, ‘Let’s make this happen for Sheinelle.’”
Previous host Kotb left the show on January 10, after 17 years, and it has since been operating with a rotating cast, titled Jenna & Friends. The first week of hosts with Hager were Taraji P. Henson, Eva Longoria, Keke Palmer, and Michelle Buteau. Since then, over 40 different people have been Hager’s “Friends.” Jones first co-hosted in September. “Hopefully this will be a date where you walk away and go, ‘Okay, hopefully she calls me tomorrow!’” Jones said to Hager at the time, who promised, “You’re coming back.”
Related
