Tragedy Strikes Today Co-Host Sheinelle Jones' Family as Husband Uche Ojeh Dies at 45 of Aggressive Brain Cancer

Published: May 23, 2025

Today co-host Sheinelle Jones' husband Uche Ojeh has passed away at the age of 45 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. The heartbreaking news was announced on May 23 during the NBC morning show's live broadcast.

Ojeh, whose full name was Uchechukwuka Adenola Ojeh, and Jones were married for 18 years and share three children: son Kayin, 15, and fraternal twins Clara and Uche, 12.

"There are no words for the pain that we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children," said Guthrie. "Uche was an incredible person. We all loved him. ... We just want to say Sheinelle, Kayin, Uche, and the Ojeh family: we are with you, we love you. You are our family and we're just sending all of our love to you right now."

Melvin, who was close friends with Ojeh, added, "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 of every soccer game. He was at all of the concerts and the recitals. He was that guy."

Jones shared a video of the segment on Instagram with the caption: "Thank you, for all of your love and support. ❤️"

Jones, 47, has been absent from the Today show since mid-December. She first joined the network in 2014 and has been a constant across all of Today's programming, including co-hosting 3rd Hour of Today alongside Roker, Melvin, and Dreyer.

The journalist addressed her absence in an Instagram post on Jan. 15, explaining that she was "taking time to deal with a family health matter."

Ojeh was born on Feb. 4, 1980. He first met Jones at Northwestern University in the late '90s, and they married in 2007. They welcomed their first son, Kayin, in 2009 and later expanded their family with Clara and Uche in 2012.

Embracing family time was their top priority, as Jones said in 2019 during Today's streaming special, Holidays in My House: "My kids are happy and it's what's most important to me. There may be a pile of laundry in the corner, but I'm so happy that I wasn't so worried about the laundry that I didn't miss the moment in front of me."

Jones echoed those sentiments in a birthday post for Ojeh in 2023, reflecting on all they've been through together.

Friday's broadcast of Today included a touching video package to Ojeh.

"He was her perfect match; a man whose joyful spirit and quiet strength complemented Sheinelle in every way," Guthrie said, in the pre-recorded piece. "Uche was the kind of person who brought life, warm and joy to every room."

Rest in peace, Uche Ojeh.