Jenna Bush Hager isn’t wasting any time praising her longtime coworker and friend Sheinelle Jones.
“Can I just say something about you? And I’m gonna try [not to cry], you know me,” Hager, 43, said on the Monday, September 22, episode of Today With Jenna and Friends before praising Jones, 47, for how she has coped with the death of husband Uche Ojeh. “But I’ve never met anybody stronger. … I just can’t sit here and not say this to you. Watching you over the last year has been remarkable, and I remember sitting at his funeral, thinking — and I’ve been to state funerals and such — there’s never been a more beautiful funeral. Never. And you did all that.”
Jones resumed cohosting Today’s third hour on September 5. She previously took a leave from the morning show in December 2024 to care for Ojeh. He died in May at the age of 45 following a battle with brain cancer.
Before cohosting Today With Jenna and Friends on Monday, Jones shared a quote via her Instagram Story that read, “I hope you find time to be happy, not just strong.”
How Sheinelle Jones Is Coping After Husband Uche Ojeh’s Death
During the show, Hager acknowledged the post before adding, “I hope that for you.”
“There’s a lot of love in the world and a lot of pain, and you sharing your story is going to help so many people that are thinking, ‘Where is the brightness?’” Hager said. “It’s here. There’s hope. I’m sure of it even in our most divisive times.”
During the candid chat, Jones thanked Hager for being a supportive friend and sharing a song from Blessing Offor called “Brighter Days.”
“When you’ve gone through the worst, when you have fun, you lean into the fun,” Jones said. “You allow yourself to be present. … Kindness makes me cry. That’s what I learned in therapy.”
It’s been a season of change for Jones and her family.
The same week the NBC News journalist headed back to work, the three kids she shared with Ojeh went back to school. While things started off good, that first Friday night proved to be a little “tough.”
“There was nothing to rally ourselves for. It was like, ‘Oh, this is it. This kinda sucks.’ Saturday morning, for me, was tough,” Jones shared. “My coach was gone, my life partner. So the days after my first week were tough because it’s, like, my new normal.”
Hoda Kotb Shares Emotional Moment With Sheinelle Jones on ‘Today’ Show
Through all the ups and downs of her grieving journey, Jones has had the support of both her Today show family and relatives.
Every positive message received, Jones said, makes life a little bit more joyful.
“I had one of the most heartfelt conversations I’ve ever had with my mom because she’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, everybody’s so excited to have you back,’ and my father, and people at the grocery store sending me messages,” Jones shared. “It’s heartwarming.”
