Sheinelle Jones takes break from ‘Today‘ show to focus on family
Sheinelle Jones took to Instagram to explain that she is taking a temporary break from NBC’s “Today” show to address a family health matter.
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Amid “Today” host Sheinelle Jones’ ongoing absence, her co-anchors are sending love and prayers her way.
During an Access Hollywood segment that aired Friday, fellow “Today” anchors Al Roker, Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer offered an update on their colleague who stepped back over three months ago to deal with “a family health matter.”
“Just talked to her a couple of days ago,” Melvin said, “she’s taking some time to be with her family and 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.”
The beloved co-anchor of the NBC morning show’s third hour paused hosting duties in December but did not appear to be stepping back permanently from her role. She first raised eyebrows with an absence during the high-profile exit of former “Today” main co-anchor Hoda Kotb in January. The celebrations, dubbed a “Hoda-bration,” featured messages from “Today” personalities sans Jones.
Shortly after, Jones took to Instagram to confirm her hiatus, writing in a post: “I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while l’ve been absent from the show. I want to share with you that I’m taking time to deal with a family health matter.”
“We’re just praying for her,” Roker said in the “Access Hollywood” clip.
“She misses being here,” Dreyer added. “She wishes she was here with us but she’s doing what she needs to do and she’ll be back.”
Jones shares three children with her husband, Uche Ojeh: oldest son Kayin, 15, and 12-year-old fraternal twins Clara and Uche Jr.
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“It’s not lost on me how lucky l am to have not only the support of my Today Show family, but to also have all of you,” Jones continued in her post. “Your kindness means so much to me. I’ll see you soon.”
Jones, a graduate of the esteemed Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, joined “Today” in 2014 after a near-decade at Fox 29 News Philadelphia, where she co-hosted the morning show “Good Day Philadelphia” alongside local broadcasting legend Mike Jerrick. She currently co-hosts the third hour alongside Melvin, Al Roker and meteorologist Dylan Dreyer.
Contributing: Jay Stahl
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