Stars Rally Around Sheinelle Jones After Death of Husband Uche Ojeh
The Hollywood and news communities are supporting Sheinelle Jones in the wake of her husband Uche Ojeh’s death.
Savannah Guthrie announced on the Friday, May 23, episode of Today that Ojeh recently died at age 45 after a private battle with the brain cancer glioblastoma. “There are no words for the pain that we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. Uche was an incredible person. We all loved him.”
Jones, 47, served as her husband’s tour guide at Northwestern University, and the two fell in love during their college days in the late ‘90s. Ojeh proposed on the school’s campus and the two tied the knot in September 2007.
They first became parents with the birth of their eldest son, Kayin, in August 2009, and expanded their family with the birth of twins Clara and Uche in July 2012.
‘Today’ Hosts Get Emotional Over Sheinelle Jones’ Husband’s Death
Jones has been absent from her role on the third hour of Today since December 2024. The following month, she announced via Instagram that she was “taking time to deal with a family health matter.”
She reposted her Today colleagues’ on-air tributes to her husband via Instagram, writing, “Thank you, for all of your love and support 
.” Several fans, fellow reporters and celebrities flooded the post’s comments with their condolences and well-wishes.
Scroll down to see which stars have rallied around Jones during her family’s difficult time:
Hoda Kotb
Kotb also reposted the announcement of Ojeh’s death on Today via her Instagram, writing, “
sending all of my love @sheinelle_o 
.” The former Today coanchor left a sweet message in the comments of Jones’ post, stating, “Holding you and your babies sheinelle .”
Savannah Guthrie
“We just want to say Sheinelle, Kayin, little Uche and Clara, the Ojeh family, we are with you,” she said on Friday’s episode of Today. “We love you. You are our family, and we are just sending all of our love to you right now.”
Guthrie also praised both Jones and Ojeh for being “so strong” amid the latter’s health battle. “Uche had a beautiful, deep, abiding faith every single day of this fight, and you could see it in his eyes. He was an extraordinary person,” she stated. “We love him and we love you, Sheinelle.”
Guthrie shared more kind words in the comments of Jones’ Instagram post. “Uche was an extraordinary person. Full of light and heart and faith,” she wrote. “Sheinelle, my dearest, we love you and the kids with all of our hearts. I marvel at your strength. You are surrounded by love now and forever .”
Dylan Dreyer
Noting that Jones was “always smiling” through the difficult time, Dreyer recalled on Friday’s Today episode that her fellow third hour cohost and Ojeh were grateful to spend quality time with their family in South Carolina during the Covid pandemic.
“They had this special time of their life to just all be together because that was the most important thing to each and every one of them,” she shared.
In the comments of Jones’ Instagram post, Dreyer wrote that she hopes her colleague “can find peace in the love and prayers that surround you and your incredible children.” She added, “I’m so lucky to have known Uche and his spirit lives on in your family. Love you Sheinelle.”
Al Roker
As the Today hosts shared their memories of Ojeh on Friday, Roker recalled how Jones’ husband was a “private” but “wickedly funny” guy. “He would say things that kind of caught you off guard, but wasn’t braggadocious or anything,” Roker shared. “He was a very humble man.”
Craig Melvin
On Friday, Guthrie noted that Melvin was “really good friends” with Ojeh. Her coanchor recalled talking about life while golfing with Ojeh last fall, stating that the most important thing in life to him was his and Jones’ kids.
“[He] was just so proud. He was that dad that was on the sideline at every soccer game, he was at all the concerts and recitals,” Melvin praised. “He was that guy.”
He later stated it was “remarkable” to see how Jones tackled her husband’s health battle while continuing to raise their three kids. “Every time you would talk to her, she would still find a way to laugh about something,” Melvin noted.
Jenna Bush Hager
On Today, Bush Hager said that Jones was able to find the “grace in the grief” through her sense of humor. “I know we all, when we’ve all spoken to her, just been completely inspired, “ she gushed.
Bush Hager later took to the comments of Jones’ Instagram post, writing, “Love you Sheinelle … we wrap our arms around you now and forever!”
Carson Daly
While paying tribute to Ojeh, the Voice host recalled losing his own father to cancer when he was 5 years old. He credited his “faith in God” to helping him work through the grief. “I pray for their family and the kids that they’ll have that fortunate as well,” he said on Today. “They have such great faith.”
Daly also reposted a Today show post about Ojeh’s death via his Instagram Story on Friday.
Tamron Hall
“Sheinelle our prayers and love are with you and your family,” the former Today host commented on Jones’ Instagram post.
Shaun Robinson
“What a blessing to have had such a perfect, wonderful partner ,” the TV personality wrote underneath Jones’ Friday Instagram post. “Sending you an abundance of love, my friend 
.”
Sherri Shepherd
The former The View cohost wrote that she was sending Jones “love & prayers” in the comments of the Today host’s Instagram post.
Joy Reid
“Oh Sheinelle. I am so sorry, dear sister,” the former MSNBC personality wrote on Jones’ Instagram on Friday. “Sending you so much love and deepest condolences .”
Nischelle Turner
“Covering you and your family with prayer and healing energy ,” the Entertainment Tonight cohost wrote to Jones via an Instagram comment.
Ayman Mohyeldin
The NBC News and MSNBC reporter commented that he was “so sorry” for Jones’s loss in her Instagram comments. “Uche was a special guy and one the best people I enjoyed talking soccer with,” Mohyeldin added. “He will be missed but his love and his legacy will live on forever. Sending you love and strength!”
Selma Blair
“Oh Sheneille [sic]. i am so sorry. you are so loved. i love you,” the actress wrote via an Instagram comment on Friday. “Only strength and love to you and yours.”
Holly Robinson Peete
The actress and singer paid tribute to Jones and her late husband via Instagram on Friday. “Dear Sheinelle, I am heartbroken to hear of your loss. Please know that Rodney & I are holding you and your family close in my heart during this unimaginable time,” she wrote alongside a clip of Guthrie announcing Ojeh’s death on Today.
She continued, “Your husband’s love and light will live on through the beautiful life you shared. I pray you find strength in the love that surrounds you and comfort in the memories you hold dear. With deepest sympathy and all my love, Holly 
.”
‘Today’ Host Sheinelle Jones’ Family Guide
Jessica Sims
Sims called the clip of the Today cast honoring Ojeh “such a beautiful tribute” in the comments of Jones’ Instagram post. “Sheinelle we are holding you and your family in our prayers ,” the Peloton instructor wrote.
D-Nice
The DJ commented that he was sending Jones and her family his “deepest condolences” underneath her Friday Instagram upload.
Yvonne Orji
“So very very sorry for your loss,” the Insecure alum wrote in an Instagram comment to Jones.
Justin Sylvester
The E! News personality and frequent Today With Jenna & Friends guest host left three red hearts underneath Jones’ Friday Instagram clip.
Norah O’Donnell
The CBS News correspondent commented that she was “sending love” to Jones and her family on Friday.
Donna Farizan
“I love you and your family so much,” the Jenna & Friends contributor wrote in an Instagram comment.
Alisyn Camerota
“We’ve got you ,” the former CNN personality wrote to Jones on Friday.
Scott Evans
In the comments of Jones’ Instagram post, the Access Hollywood correspondent wrote, “Sending you so much love. Lifting ur family in prayer.”
Nessa
“Sending you so much love and we will be praying for you always,” the Today contributor wrote via Instagram on Friday. “We love you!!!!”
Rebecca Jarvis
Like many other celebs, the ABC News commented that she was “sending so much love” to Jones and her family via Instagram.
Jaimie Alexander
“Sheinelle. I am so very sorry for your loss,” the Blindspot alum commented under Jones’ Instagram upload. “My heart breaks for you and your family.”
Atoya Burleson
The wife of CBS Mornings cohost Nate Burleson wrote that she was “so sorry” to hear the news of Ojeh’s death. “Praying for you and the family. We all love you and know how much your hubby meant to you,” she commented on Jones’ Instagram. “Lifting you and the family up during this unimaginable time. Love you sis.”
Ally Love
The Peloton instructor and Today contributor told Jones that she was “deep in my prayers and heart” in a Friday Instagram comment. “I love you and sending some much love to your family,” she added.
Jacob Soboroff
“Love you very much @sheinelle_o. may Uche’s memory be a blessing,” the NBC News correspondent commented underneath Jones’ Instagram post. “You are a gift to all of us who know you — and everyone out there who knows you from what you give to all of us every morning. here for you always.”
Aarti Sequeira
“Oh Sheinelle. I am so very sorry,” the Food Network star wrote in a Friday Instagram comment. “I’m praying for you and your precious babies right now… for a mantle of strength and peace to cover you as walk through the days ahead.”
Uzo Aduba
“I am so sorry for your loss. 
,” the Orange is the New Black alum commented on Jones’ Instagram.
Heather McMahan
“So incredibly sorry,” the comedian and former Jenna & Friends cohost wrote in an Instagram comment on Friday. “Sending you so much love .”
Kaylee Hartung
Hartung, who filled in for Jones several times on the third hour of Today amid her ongoing absence, commented that she has “so much love” for the Today host via Instagram.
