Sheinelle Jones details the hardest part of Today return after husband Uche Ojeh's death
NBC's Sheinelle Jones discusses the challenges of resuming work and daily life four months after Uche Ojeh's death from glioblastoma.
Sheinelle Jones said it’s been tough returning to NBC's Today show four months after the death of her husband, Uche Ojeh, from cancer, during a Monday episode of Today With Jenna and Friends. The TV host gave fans a glimpse into how she and her three children—Kayin, 16, and 13-year-old twins Clara and Uche—are adjusting to life with a new rhythm as they ease back into daily routines.
Jones described the early return to work earlier this month as fun and said, Work comes, and we get through the first week of school, the first week back to work. She added that Friday, when the family got home, was particularly hard because there was nothing left to rally around. Saturday morning for me was tough, she continued, explaining that Saturdays used to be reflective moments with Ojeh—moments when they would ask each other, Oh my God what a week.
'It was usually like, Oh my God, that interview on Tuesday, I should have said this. Or what about this?' Jones added, noting that the days after the first week felt like a transition to a new normal without her partner. 'And so the days after my first week were tough because it’s like my new normal.'
The TV personality described Saturday as especially challenging because it is a window to reflect on the week without the person who had been a constant presence in her life. 'Friday, when we got home, there was nothing for us to rally ourselves for,' she repeated, underscoring how the household dynamic changed with Ojeh’s passing.
Earlier this month, Jones returned to the 'Today' show in a pre-taped interview, telling viewers that her heart still hurts after Ojeh’s death. The couple had been married since September 2007.
In late 2024, Jones took a mysterious leave of absence to deal with a family health matter, though she did not disclose her husband’s cancer battle at the time. In May, Savannah Guthrie announced that Ojeh had died after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. 'There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and her three young children,' Guthrie said. 'Uche was an incredible person, and we all loved him.'
Jones addressed fans via Instagram at the time, writing, 'Thank you, for all of your love and support.' She later explained that she kept Ojeh’s cancer diagnosis private because he was fiercely private, while she had chosen to be in the public eye. The couple had been married since September 2007.
As she returns to the studio, Jones and her children are navigating the loss while continuing to maintain daily routines—school, work, and family life—in the public eye. The family’s journey through grief and resilience continues to unfold as she balances the demands of a high-profile television schedule with the needs of a growing family.
