Like her fellow co-hosts on NBC’s “Right now” present, Sheinelle Jones is a pleasant presence with a heat smile and distinctive perspective. Having been on the present since 2014, Jones has made herself a family identify, even when she’s suffered a couple of absences or two. Jones, being one of many members of “Right now” who has suffered a tragedy, has an indomitable work ethic, which is why any stretch of time she takes from behind the “Right now” desk is regarding. Every time she’s needed to take a step again, it is typically been a sign that one thing may very well be mistaken for the “Wild Youngster” host.

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In early 2025, across the similar time Hoda Kotb made a multitude of her “Right now” exit, Jones herself slipped quietly from the limelight of the small display. This wasn’t the primary time Jones needed to take an prolonged keep from her place, nevertheless it was one of many extra tragic absences. Whereas it is clear that Jones loves her job, particularly when she’s on air, her behind-the-scenes life has been filled with hardships. The truth is, there have been a number of gorgeous occasions Jones has needed to overcome to get to the place she is immediately.

In 2016, “Right now” present co-host Sheinelle Jones found she had a polyp on one in every of her vocal cords. After taking a quick break from her on-air duties on the time, the problem cleared up by itself — till it did not. In February of 2020, Jones made a serious announcement — she had a vocal twine lesion that now required surgical procedure. In an sincere second on “Right now,” Jones admitted that she was discovering a silver lining in having to take six weeks away from work, with two of them spent on whole vocal relaxation. “It is a reward to take a seat nonetheless and do some soul looking out,” Jones stated. “No person ever tells you you may have permission to take a seat nonetheless.” Nonetheless, sitting nonetheless in full silence does not sound like a stroll within the park, both.

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On February 24, 2020, Jones made a heartfelt Instagram publish after her profitable surgical procedure. She detailed the best way she felt taken care of by hospital employees, in addition to realizing the surgical procedure had “been a very long time coming, and I’ve struggled on and off for therefore lengthy.” Realizing that the journey to restoration was simply starting, Jones acknowledged that “now the work begins to heal.”

Fortunately for Jones, she’s not alone on this highway to restoration. One other tv character has additionally undergone surgical procedure on her vocal cords; actually, it is what gave Rachael Ray her distinctive voice. It is a reminder that self-care can typically are available in many types, and based on Jones, “that is self-care to the nth diploma.”

Although by then she already had the enjoyment of welcoming oldest youngster Kayin, and twins Clara and Uche, Sheinelle Jones opened up about an earlier time in her life when she misplaced a being pregnant. Writing a private essay for Right now in 2021, Jones mentioned the stigma many ladies face when coping with fertility points. Inside it, she talked about the overwhelming sense of needing to buckle down and push by with what many ladies experiencing being pregnant loss wrestle. This is the reason she wrote the piece — not solely to element her personal expertise with miscarriage, however to open the dialog as much as encourage extra individuals to speak about their experiences.

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After struggling a miscarriage whereas at a information networking occasion, Jones did go on to have her three wholesome youngsters and admitted, “I can not think about my life being any totally different.” Realizing she’s actually not alone, Jones determined to take motion, occurring to government produce the documentary “Tales We Inform: The Fertility Secret.” Not solely does the movie cowl miscarriage, nevertheless it additionally brings up under-researched illnesses like endometriosis and fibroids. Jones is not the one movie star talking out about these points; a number of have additionally gone on the report about their struggles with uterine well being. For instance, actress Gabrielle Union opened up about her infertility points, and singer Jessie J additionally revealed her personal being pregnant loss. It is a feat of energy to show one thing so troublesome into a chance to type neighborhood, and Jones is proving simply how sturdy she is.

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Sheinelle Jones clearly has a lot love for her household, particularly her grandparents. Sadly, top-of-the-line examples of how a lot her coronary heart has to carry for them got here with the information that she misplaced her beloved grandfather. In a teary-eyed however skilled on-air message to the viewers at house, the “Right now” co-host introduced in April 2022 that Dr. Val Jones had handed away, forsaking an enduring legacy. As a physician, her grandfather consistently labored for his neighborhood and shared a love for his household. Sheinelle divulged that Dr. Val and her grandmother “had been married for 72 years.” (By way of Yahoo! Information). “I am so grateful for his life,” Sheinelle continued, “My coronary heart is heavy, however I’m so grateful for the legacy he left.”

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On Valentine’s Day 2023, Sheinelle made an endearing Instagram publish offering extra historical past and lore concerning her grandfather. Apparently, Dr. Val was born on Valentine’s Day, “therefore his identify,” Sheinelle wrote. Within the bittersweet birthday publish, Sheinelle admitted, “I miss him so, a lot,” and that “he is shining down on me … from heaven.” The lack of a beloved one is all the time troublesome, and it appears that evidently Sheinelle actually beloved her grandfather; nonetheless, his loss was simply one in every of many tragedies Sheinelle must shoulder.

In early 2025, followers of NBC’s “Right now” present started to develop involved over the unusual disappearance of Sheinelle Jones. On January 15, Craig Melvin and Savannah Guthrie probably tried to keep away from any extra awkward “Right now” moments by asserting that Jones was taking a depart of absence. “We all know so lots of you may have been asking about Sheinelle,” Guthrie stated, persevering with, “we miss her too” (By way of E! Information). Whereas it was all the time assumed that Jones would return, her disappearance was clearly felt, to the purpose that Jones herself wrote a be aware about it. 

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That very same day, Jones made a publish to Instagram thanking everybody who had taken the time to succeed in out to her. In a moderately cryptic transfer, Jones referred to her time away as involving “a household well being matter,” however then reiterated how vital everybody’s assist had been to her. “Your kindness means a lot to me,” she wrote. Whereas it wasn’t instantly clear what the key life occasion was that induced Jones to drag away, it did permit her to prioritize her household. It is one thing that finally proved to be a smart transfer as soon as the personal matter got here to mild in Could 2025.

On Could 23, 2025, the co-hosts of NBC’s “Right now” present sat down to inform viewers at house that Sheinelle Jones’ husband, Uche Ojeh, had handed away. Based on Right now, co-host Savannah Guthrie was clearly devastated as she stated, “There are not any phrases for the ache we really feel for Sheinelle and their three younger youngsters.” Guthrie continued, saying, “Uche was an unimaginable particular person. All of us beloved him.” Craig Melvin additionally chimed in concerning the love Ojeh had for his household. “He beloved these youngsters greater than the rest on this world, and was simply so proud,” Melvin stated earlier than persevering with that Ojeh and Jones “had such a stupendous love story.”

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In her personal publish on Instagram, Jones shared a snippet of that very same section in addition to the caption, “Thanks, for all your love and assist.” Jones met Ojeh when he was touring Northwestern College. Based on an Instagram publish celebrating their anniversary, the couple formally received married in 2007 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ojeh is survived by Jones, in addition to their three youngsters, Kayin, Clara, and Uche. Judging by the various Instagram posts Jones has made detailing her love for Ojeh, he shall be missed by his household and past.