Kotb has already given the new team her blessing, calling Jones and Hager “a match made in heaven.”

Sheinelle Jones to join Jenna Bush Hager as host of Today’s fourth hour 1 year after Hoda Kotb’s exit

Kotb has already given the new team her blessing, calling Jones and Hager "a match made in heaven."

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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December 9, 2025 11:40 a.m. ET

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Sheinelle Jones and Jenna Bush Hager on Monday, Feb. 28, 2023. Credit:

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

The search for Jenna Bush Hager's *Today* partner is finally over.

Bright and early on Monday morning, the NBC News franchise announced that Sheinelle Jones will be stepping up as the permanent co-host of *Today*'s fourth hour. As of Jan. 12, the duo will join forces for the newly named show, *Today with Jenna & Sheinelle*. This will make Jones the first permanent co-host since Hoda Kotb departed the show at the start of this year.

During the Dec. 9 broadcast, Hager got emotional while making the big announcement to 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," Hager began. "I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve made some incredible friends, and I’ve learned so much about myself. And you, the audience, have been with me for the entire time, so thank you so much."

Sheinelle Jones on 'Today' on Thursday, April 18, 2024.

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Hager 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."

The announcement also got some love from Kotb herself, who shared a photo of the two hosts together on Instagram with the caption, "Ok. I am weeping—- just watched @jennabhager and @sheinelle_o show us what a match made in heaven looks like. So proud of you both."

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Following Kotb's January departure, the fourth hour was retitled *Today With Jenna & Friends*, and saw Hager joined by a rotating cast of A-listers and colleagues to help her anchor the program. Guest hosts ranged from Andy Cohen to Scarlett Johansson to Jones herself.

Jones, a longtime co-host of *3rd Hour of Today* with Dylan Dreyer, Al Roker, and Craig Melvin, has been a member of the *Today* family since 2014. She joined Jenna to co-host the fourth hour in September, a particularly emotional broadcast because it came weeks after the death of Jones' husband, Uche Ojeh, who died in May at age 45 after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

The emotional conversation saw Jones open up about the loss of her husband of 17 years, with whom she shares three children. "My coach was gone, right? My life partner," she told Hager while reminiscing about her first week back to work. "The days after my first week were tough. Because it’s my new normal."

Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer on Nov. 5, 2024.

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

The tender dialogue brought both women to tears, with Hager telling Jones that she's never met anyone stronger than her. Jones then thanked her cohost for sending her a song by Blessing Offor called "Brighter Days."

Reciting the lyrics, "I swear that love will find you in your pain," Jones shared that she listened to the song "over and over and over" again.

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*Today* executive vice president Libby Leist and *Jenna & Friends *executive producer Talia Parkinson-Jones celebrated Sheinelle's permanent addition to the show in a statement: "This marks an exciting new chapter for the fourth hour. Jenna and Sheinelle are two extraordinary talents who have grown within the ranks of TODAY. They are beloved for their authenticity, warmth and genuine connection with our TODAY audience," the statement read.

Sheinelle is set to step away from the 3rd Hour of *Today* to begin co-hosting *Jenna & Sheinelle *in the new year. Melvin, Roker, and Dreyer will remain co-hosts of the 9 a.m. show.

Watch the big announcement above.**

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