Sheinelle Jones' Son, 16, Has One Request for His Mom as She Steps into Her New Role at “Today”
- - Sheinelle Jones' Son, 16, Has One Request for His Mom as She Steps into Her New Role at “Today”
Hannah SacksDecember 11, 2025 at 7:25 AM
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Sheinelle Jones/ Instagram
Sheinelle Jones smiles with her son Kayin. -
Sheinelle Jones' son, 16, had one request for his mom after learning she was taking over the fourth hour on Today
Jones said she realized her son had never seen her not work on the morning news
Now, since the Friday episodes of the fourth hour are pre-taped, Sheinelle will be able to spend time with her kids at home
Sheinelle Jones got some big news this week — and her son Kayin had only one request when he learned what his mom's new job was.
Earlier this week, Today announced that Jones would be taking over for Hoda Kotb and co-hosting the fourth hour of the show with Jenna Bush Hager. The mom of three, who will step back from her job of co-hosting the third hour in favor of her new role, shared that her son Kayin, 16, had one request when he heard the news.
“They don’t tape shows on Fridays,” she said of her new program's schedule.
Sheinelle continued, “They have Fridays off, and my 16-year-old said, ‘So does that mean, Mom, maybe you could take us to school sometimes in the morning on Friday?’ And I’m like, ‘You, like me?!’ I thought about it, and his whole life, I’ve worked morning news.”
The proud mom said she jokingly told her kids, "Maybe you guys can make me breakfast."
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Sheinelle is mom to Kayin as well as twins Clara and Uche Jr., both 13, whom she shares with her late husband, Uche Ojeh.
The journalist has had a tough year following the death of her husband Ojeh in March. She first took an extended leave of absence from Today at the end of 2024 to spend time with Ojeh following his glioblastoma diagnosis. She returned to the show in September, declaring, “I’m fighting for my joy,” amidst her grief.
Nearly a year after Kotb left the morning news program, it was announced on Dec. 9 that Jones will become Kotb's replacement to join Bush Hager as the permanent co-host of the 10 o’clock hour.
Bush Hager announced on air that Jones' first show will be on Jan. 12.
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During the Dec. 9 broadcast, Bush Hager began crying right away while thanking the viewers. "We have got a very special show today. Over the last year, you guys, I have had the privilege of co-hosting this show with 60 incredible friends, who’ve all opened up to me, who inspired me, I’ve laughed, I’ve cried I’ve made some incredible friends and I’ve learned so much about myself," Bush Hager said. "And you the audience have been with me for the entire time, so thank you so much."
She continued, "Today I’m so thrilled to announce that I’ve found my forever friend and we’re gonna start a brand new journey in January. I couldn’t be more excited to share this person with you all. You all know her, she’s an extraordinary broadcaster. But more importantly, she exemplifies exactly what this show is all about."
After the announcement, Jones revealed her kids' reactions, who were so proud of their mom on her newest gig.
“I told my kids first,” Jones told Bush Hager while opening up about new role. “So Kay was in the school library and I went and got wine and I gave [the twins] water and I said, ‘Guys, we have to take a selfie.’ And they were so happy for me. There was so much joy in our house and we needed that joy.”
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
