HEARTBREAKING NEWS: Sudden Interruption On NBC Leaves Audiences STUNNED As Today Show Breaks Silence On Host’s Unimaginable PAIN And Private HEARTACHE

Sheinelle Jones’ husband of 17 years, Uche Ojeh, has d!ed aged 45.

The NBC program shared the heartbreaking news on Friday, May 23, that Ojeh had tragically passed away following a battle with brain cancer. Savannah Guthrie said on the TODAY show: “With profound sadness, we share this morning that Uche Ojeh, the husband of our friend and TODAY co-host Sheinelle Jones, has passed away 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 their three young children. Uche was an incredible person. We all loved him. And so we want to take a moment to tell you more about the remarkable man who was Sheinelle’s perfect partner in life,” Guthrie continued.

According to sources to the New York Post, Ojeh was in hospice before his passing and put up a “brave fight.”

Jones and Ojeh met in college and married in 2007 (Image: INSTAGRAM)
Jones disclosed in mid-January that she would be temporarily leaving the third hour of TODAY for an unknown amount of time due to “a family health matter.” She took to Instagram to make the announcement and explain the reason for her absence since December 18. Jones has been with NBC News since 2014.

“Hi everybody … I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I’ve been absent from the show,” the 46-year-old reporter wrote at the time. “I want to share with you that I’m taking time to deal with a family health matter.

“It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my Today Show family, but to also have all of you. Your kindness means so much to me,” she continued before concluding with a promised, “I’ll see you soon” and an “Love, Sheinelle” sign-off.

Savannah Guthrie announced the news live on air (Image: Today Show)
At the time of Jones’ Instagram statement, a source told PEOPLE that her family health matter was “serious.” In April, Today co-stars updated folks about her absence. Access Hollywood guest correspondent Emily Orozco asked about Jones: “Have you guys been in touch with Sheinelle? We miss her, we hope she’s doing well.”

Craig Melvin responded: “Just talked to her a couple of days ago, as you know. She’s taking some time to be with her family. We talk to her all the time and we love our girl. It’s been nice to see how much everyone else loves her too.”

Al Rocker chimed in “Exactly. We’re just praying for her,” and Dylan Dryer said: “She misses being here, you know, she wishes she was here with us but she’s doing what she needs to do and she’ll be back.”

Jones and Ojeh first met at Northwestern University in the late 1990s, when she was a 18-year-old freshman and he was a visiting high-school senior. Jones had offered to show him around the campus and the rest was history for the couple who dated for eight years before Ojeh proposed on their alma mater’s campus.

Jones has been absent from TODAY since December 2024 (Image: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
The pair tied the knot in September 2007 in Philadelphia, which is Jones’ hometown. They welcomed their eldest son, Kayin, in August 2009 and twins, son Uche and daughter Clara in July 2012.

In an article shared on TODAY’s website, it was revealed that Ojeh’s “deep sense of faith were his guiding forces.” Ojeh was also an “enthusiastic” soccer player and sang in the church choir. They additionally said that he was steadfast about his Nigerian heritage as he instilled that devotion into his children, providing them a deep connecting to their cultural roots.

Jones expressed in 2022 how she felt it was significant for her kids to connected to their Nigerian roots: “I think it is important to my husband that my kids are brought up knowing his side and his culture. So, I actually am happy that every year — and even more than every year, whenever we get together — they get new native wear because as they continue to grow, they continue to get new outfits.”

“One thing he always talked about — he talked about those kids,” Melvin said on TODAY about Ojeh. “He loved those kids more than anything else in this world, and was just so proud. He was that dad that was on the sideline at every soccer game. He was at all the concerts, the recitals. He was that guy, and they had such a beautiful love story.”