Jenna Bush Hager Officially Chooses Her New TODAY Co-Host — and Her Emotional Reason Leaves the Whole Studio in Tears

The Today Show studio, a beacon of morning optimism tucked into the heart of Rockefeller Center, has weathered its share of heartfelt moments—from surprise retirements to triumphant returns. But on December 9, 2025, as the winter sun cast a golden hue over the iconic blue couch, the air thickened with an emotion so palpable it seemed to hush the bustling crew. Jenna Bush Hager, the 44-year-old former first daughter turned TV trailblazer, stood at the center of it all, her voice quivering as she unveiled her choice for a permanent co-host to anchor the fourth hour: Sheinelle Jones. After 11 months of “Jenna & Friends”—a whirlwind parade of 60 guest stars that kept the slot sparkling but searching—the announcement rebranded the hour as *Today with Jenna & Sheinelle*, set to premiere January 12, 2026. What could have been a polished reveal dissolved into tears, hugs, and raw vulnerability, as Jenna’s explanation transcended the professional, touching on grief, gratitude, and the quiet power of chosen family. The studio, from producers to audience plants, was left in collective sniffles, a testament to the magic that happens when authenticity collides with opportunity.

Jenna, poised in a soft sage sweater that mirrored the show’s warm ethos, kicked off the segment with a nod to the journey. “Over the last year, you guys, I have had the privilege of co-hosting this show with 60 incredible friends,” she said, her Texas twang softening as memories flashed across the monitors: Taraji P. Henson’s inaugural gusto, Eva Longoria’s spicy confessions, Scarlett Johansson’s star-powered levity. “I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve made some incredible friends, and I’ve learned so much about myself. And you, the audience, have been with me for the entire time, so thank you so much.” The words hung heavy, a bridge from Hoda Kotb’s January exit—a family-first farewell after 17 years of Emmy-winning synergy—to this new dawn. Hoda’s departure had left a void, one Jenna filled with grace but couldn’t ignore. Yet, as she paused, dabbing her eyes, the pivot arrived: “Today I’m so thrilled to announce that I’ve found my forever friend, and we’re gonna start a brand new journey in January. I couldn’t be more excited to share this person with you all. You all know her; she’s an extraordinary broadcaster. But more importantly, she exemplifies exactly what this show is all about.”

The camera cut to the wings, and out bounded Sheinelle Jones, 47, her megawatt smile cutting through the tension like sunlight after rain. A Today veteran since 2014, Sheinelle had co-anchored the third hour alongside Al Roker, Craig Melvin, and Dylan Dreyer, her poise and passion earning her a spot in the show’s sisterhood. But her path to this desk was paved with profound loss. In December 2024, she stepped away to care for her husband, Uche Ojeh, a visionary entrepreneur and father to their three sons, as he battled glioblastoma. Uche passed in May 2025 at 45, a heartbreak Sheinelle shared with raw eloquence upon her September return, crediting her co-hosts—Savannah Guthrie, Craig, Al, Dylan, and Jenna—as her “family.” Now, poached from the third hour (which will soldier on with its trio intact), Sheinelle enveloped Jenna in a hug that turned to shared sobs. “A year ago at this time was tough for me,” she said, voice thick with memory. “This is the real deal, and I get to do it with Jenna! I look back at my career—one market at a time, things just kept happening—and now to have a show like this is beyond my wildest dreams.”

It was Jenna’s follow-up that shattered the room. Leaning into the mic, tears streaming freely, she reflected on their decade-long bond: stolen chats in the green room, mutual cheers through career climbs, and unspoken support during Sheinelle’s darkest days. “I’ve known her for a decade, but to get to fall even more in love with her… This show started with Kathie Lee and Hoda as a celebration of friendship, of finding goodness by surrounding yourself with people who see you and love you,” Jenna said, her words a love letter to the hour’s legacy. “Sheinelle, you’ve been through unimaginable pain, and yet you show up with this light, this joy. You’re fighting for it every day, and that inspires me. This feels divine—like Uche is up there saying, ‘Alright, let’s make this happen.’” Sheinelle, wiping her cheeks, nodded fiercely: “I put on his shirt this morning and said a little prayer. Let’s go be with not my friend, but my sister!” The studio fell silent, then erupted in applause, with Al dabbing his eyes from the third-hour set and a video message from Hoda beaming in: “Sisters in sparkle—I’m so proud!”

The emotional core struck deeper when Sheinelle elaborated on her “higher purpose.” “Just as healing as it is for me and fun, I hope we can bring joy, hope, comfort to people at home,” she said, evoking Uche’s heartbeat in her own. Their September guest stint had teased the chemistry—Sheinelle likening it to a promising date, Jenna vowing, “You’re coming back.” Now, it’s official, a duo poised to blend Sheinelle’s journalistic depth with Jenna’s unfiltered warmth. Executive producers Libby Leist and Talia Parkinson-Jones hailed it in a memo: “Jenna and Sheinelle are two extraordinary talents… beloved for their authenticity.” Fans, live-tweeting the waterworks, flooded socials: “Tears for days— this is TV gold,” one posted, while another gushed, “From grief to grace: #JennaAndSheinelle is everything.”

As confetti rained (a touch early, per tradition), Jenna quipped through sniffles, “Okay, now let’s talk holidays—before we all need more tissues!” The levity landed, but the moment lingered, a reminder that in TV’s glossy grind, true connection is the ultimate plot twist. For Jenna, post-Hoda, it’s evolution; for Sheinelle, resurrection. Viewers, still misty-eyed, sense a renaissance: bolder stories, deeper laughs, unbreakable bonds. In a year of flux—from Dylan’s anchor leap to the apartment sales shaking the family—the fourth hour finds its footing. One thing’s certain: When vulnerability leads, the tears are the triumph. *Today with Jenna & Sheinelle* isn’t just a show; it’s a lifeline, wrapped in sisterhood.