If you’ve turned on the TV recently and noticed the desk at the 9 a.m. hour looks a little different, you aren't imagining things. There is a huge rumor mill spinning right now. People are frantically googling to see if Sheinelle Jones has left the Today Show for good. It’s understandable. We’ve seen a lot of shake-ups at NBC lately—Hoda Kotb’s departure being the biggest earthquake of them all—so it’s natural to worry when a familiar face isn't where you expect them to be.
The short answer? She’s still at NBC. But she has definitely moved on from the "3rd Hour" group we grew to love.
Honestly, the transition has been pretty emotional. If you missed the broadcast on January 2, 2026, it was a tear-jerker. Al Roker, Craig Melvin, and Dylan Dreyer gave Sheinelle a massive, heartfelt send-off. They’ve been a tight-knit "nonsense crew" for years, so seeing her walk away from that specific desk felt like the end of an era. But she hasn't left the building. She’s just moved down the hall to a brand-new role that basically cements her as one of the network's biggest stars.
The Big Switch: Where Is Sheinelle Now?
Basically, Sheinelle didn't quit; she got a massive promotion. On January 12, 2026, she officially stepped into her new role as the permanent co-host of the fourth hour. The show has been rebranded as Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.
It’s a huge deal. Jenna Bush Hager had been rotating through guest hosts for about a year after Hoda Kotb left the show to focus on her family. There was a lot of speculation about who would fill those iconic shoes. Would it be a fresh face? An outside hire? In the end, NBC realized the answer was right in front of them. Sheinelle’s chemistry with Jenna is just... different. It’s authentic. You can tell they actually like each other, which isn't always a given in morning TV.
Why the Change Matters
- A Permanent Partner: Jenna finally has a "forever friend" at the desk after a year of "Jenna & Friends" guest spots.
- The 3rd Hour Shift: Craig, Al, and Dylan are staying put at 9 a.m., but they’ll be using a rotating cast of correspondents to fill Sheinelle’s old seat for now.
- Schedule Perks: Sheinelle mentioned in a recent interview that the new gig means no Friday tapings for her, which is a massive win for a busy mom of three.
A Year of "Swimming Through Mud"
To really understand why people are so invested in whether Sheinelle is okay, you have to look at the incredibly hard road she’s walked over the last year. It hasn't been just about career moves. In May 2025, Sheinelle lost her husband, Uche Ojeh, to an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. He was only 45.
She took an extended leave of absence starting back in late 2024 to care for him. When she finally returned to the air in September 2025, she told viewers she was "fighting for her joy." That phrase has kind of become her mantra.
In a raw, exclusive cover story with People magazine released just this week (January 15, 2026), Sheinelle admitted that even though she’s "winning" professionally, she’s still "swimming through mud" most days. Grief doesn't just vanish because you got a new show. She spoke about the weirdness of being on TV where people think you’re "better" just because you’re smiling and wearing makeup. She’s been very open about the fact that she’s still holding a lot of pain while trying to be a "power" mom for her three kids: Kayin, who is 16, and 13-year-old twins Clara and Uche Jr.
What This Means for Your Morning Routine
So, if you’re looking for Sheinelle, you just have to wait an hour. She’s the 10 a.m. queen now. This move is part of a larger strategy by NBC to keep the Today Show feeling like a family, even as the "old guard" like Hoda moves on.
It's actually kind of poetic. On her first day in the new role, Sheinelle shared that her late husband, Uche, seemed to predict this move. Before he passed, he had sent her emojis hinting that her time to lead a show was coming. She even wore one of his shirts to the studio for her big debut on the 12th.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you want to keep up with the new era of the show, here is the best way to do it:
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- Adjust Your DVR: If you only record the 9 a.m. hour, you’re going to miss her. Set it for the 10 a.m. "Today with Jenna & Sheinelle."
- Follow Her Journey: She’s been incredibly active on Instagram, sharing the "behind the scenes" of her grief and her new job. It’s a great way to see the human side of the anchor desk.
- Watch the 3rd Hour for Surprises: While Dylan, Al, and Craig are the core, expect to see new faces filling in that fourth seat as NBC tests out potential new regulars.
Sheinelle Jones hasn't left us. She’s just growing. In a world of fake TV smiles, her honesty about how hard life is—even when things are going "well"—is exactly why viewers aren't letting her go anywhere.