The Right now present household has Sheinelle Jones’ again as she and her household mourn the sudden demise of her husband, Uche Ojeh.
“She’s such an in depth pal to me and I nonetheless don’t have the phrases. I don’t know what to say,” Dylan Dreyer completely informed Us Weekly at Hoda Kotb’s Pleasure 101 launch occasion in New York Metropolis on Wednesday, Could 28. “I’ve reached out. I don’t need to push too onerous. There’s simply numerous issues that she have to be juggling proper now. I imply, I don’t know the fitting phrases in addition to, ‘I’m right here. Everytime you want a hug, let me know. I’ll be there in a second.’ And, I imply, I pray for each evening.”
Al Roker went on so as to add, “We are inclined to say, ‘Oh, I do know what you’re going by. I do know what you’re feeling.’ No person is aware of until you’ve really been in that. So, we’re there. We simply need to be there and pay tribute to the fantastic individual that Uche was and nonetheless shall be as a result of he’s going to dwell on in these children and dwell in all our recollections.”
Jones has been absent from function as a cohost of the third hour of Right now since December 2024, revealing via Instagram the next month that she was taking day off to cope with a “household well being matter.” On Friday, Could 23, Savannah Guthrie introduced on Today that Ojeh had died at age 45 after privately battling the “aggressive type of mind most cancers” glioblastoma.
The Hollywood and information communities are supporting Sheinelle Jones within the wake of her husband Uche Ojeh’s demise. Savannah Guthrie introduced on the Friday, Could 23, episode of Right now that Ojeh lately died at age 45 after a personal battle with the mind most cancers glioblastoma. “There aren’t any phrases for the ache that we really feel […]
“There aren’t any phrases for the ache that we really feel for Sheinelle and their three younger youngsters. Uche was an unimaginable individual. All of us liked him,” she mentioned on the NBC morning present. (Jones and Uche shared son Kayin, 15, and twin Clara and Uche, 12.)
Dreyer, 43, described Ojeh as a “particular man” whereas chatting with Us on Wednesday, including, “I’m so blessed to have gotten to know him.”
Uche Ojeh and Sheinelle Jones. Bennett Raglin/Getty Pictures for NAACP LDF
On a lighthearted word, Roker, 70, joked that he had a “man sweet crush” on Ojeh. “There was one level the place he was coaching for a triathlon and he had this type of three-quarter wetsuit on, and I assumed, ‘Oh, my God, it’s the prince of Wakanda,’” he informed Us. “I mentioned it out loud. I not often say issues that I don’t [mean]. If I wouldn’t say them out loud, then I don’t say them.”
Jones’ Right now colleagues all paid tribute to her late husband throughout Friday’s episode, with Roker remembering Ojeh as a “personal” however “wickedly humorous” and “humble” man. Dreyer, for her half, famous that Jones was “all the time smiling” by her household’s tough time.
Jones broke her silence on Ojeh’s demise by sharing a clip of her colleagues’ on-air tributes via Instagram. “Thanks, for your whole love and assist ❤️,” she captioned the Friday put up.
Earlier this week, a supply completely informed Us that “there is no such thing as a timing” on when Jones will return to Right now. “Everyone seems to be shocked and simply so unhappy. Everybody can’t think about what she’s gone by. She left in December and [has] been so quiet [and] specializing in her household,” the insider added.
Dylan Dreyer, Al Roker and Sheinelle Jones. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Pictures
The supply additionally revealed that “no one knew what was happening besides very choose folks, the highest executives and the primary anchors.”
Because the Right now hosts proceed to assist Jones, additionally they confirmed their love for Kotb, 60, at Wednesday’s Pleasure 101 launch occasion. The wellness firm marks Kotb’s first main challenge since leaving Right now earlier this 12 months.
“She’s discovered her place. We’re so thrilled for her,” Roker informed Us, whereas Dreyer joked that Kotb is “too completely satisfied” to contemplate returning to Right now.