Sheinelle Jones Says Wicked Helped Her Grieve Late Husband Uche Ojeh

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Sheinelle Jones’ trip to Oz changed her grieving process for good.

The Today show host talked about how deeply moved she was by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s performances in Wicked: For Good, especially after the loss of her husband, Uche Ojeh.

Sheinelle, 47, shared in a recent Today show interview that she’s still processing a loss. She explained that she’s learning to move forward while continuing to grieve, and watching the movie was a surprisingly healing experience for her.

Sheinelle was particularly moved by how Elphaba (played by Cynthia) and Glinda (played by Ariana) showed strength, courage, and vulnerability while dealing with their own challenges in the movie. This resonated with her personally, as she returned to NBC’s morning show in September, just four months after the loss of her husband, Uche, who died from an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. It inspired her to find her own inner strength.

She said watching those women perform gave her the confidence to be strong and brave in her own life. It wasn’t just about the roles they played, but about the inspiring women they were in reality, and she realized she could embody those qualities too.

Sheinelle isn’t facing this difficult journey by herself. She also brought her 13-year-old daughter, Clara Ojeh, to the London premiere of the movie on November 10th.

She described her youngest daughter’s excitement as being ‘over the moon,’ telling Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin on Today that it was an unforgettable experience. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it,’ she said. ‘It was a bit overwhelming for Clara, with so many people, but it felt magical, like a fairytale.’ She added that they bought matching rings, saying, ‘We really needed this special moment together.’

As Sheinelle and her family – including her children Kayin, 16, and Uche, 13, who is Clara’s twin – cope with their loss, she’s encouraging them to openly share their feelings and not be afraid to express their emotions.

In a recent interview on Today, she explained how she talks to her children about difficult emotions. She compares sadness to rain, saying that just like rain eventually stops, tough times don’t last forever. She’s learned to embrace her sadness, seeing it as a way to release pain and find clarity. Instead of avoiding tears, she now welcomes them, thinking of grief as a ‘cleansing rain’ that’s okay to experience and sit with for a while.

Keep reading to see more heartfelt moments in Sheinelle’s family album…

Sheinelle Jones frequently shared the story of how she met her husband, Uche Ojeh. She was 19 years old and giving him a tour of Northwestern University when they first connected.

Oh my gosh, Savannah Guthrie said it best on Today! She described him as this incredible man, Sheinelle’s absolute perfect life partner. Seriously, perfect! It just… it really captures everything, you know? He was just…remarkable. I’m still reeling, honestly.

During his fight with brain cancer, the anchors of Today highlighted Uche’s strong faith and pride in his Nigerian roots. Sheinelle Jones recalled in a 2021 post that their three children all wore traditional Nigerian clothing for their baptism.

As the father of kids Kayin, and younger twins Clara and Uche Jr., Uche put his family first.

Craig Melvin shared in a tribute on Today that the man loved his children more than anything. He was incredibly proud and always present for their activities – every soccer game, concert, and recital. He was a dedicated, supportive father.

On today’s show, Al Roker remembered Uche as a quietly hilarious and genuinely humble person.

In a 2021 birthday message for Uche, Sheinelle shared that her late husband had always been her constant support.

She shared on Instagram that when she searches for his picture on her iPhone, almost all the results show them together – either with her, or helping their kids with activities like homework, music, or sports. She expressed deep gratitude for sharing her life with him.

During a segment on Today, Savannah Guthrie highlighted that Sheinelle Jones and her husband, Uche, successfully navigated challenges like distance to build their relationship. Sheinelle herself felt it was all worthwhile, sharing in a 2022 post about Uche, “I first noticed you when I was 19… and look at us now.”

During their most challenging time, Savannah told Sheinelle and Uche that they were both incredibly strong and resilient.

Savannah highlighted that Uche possessed a cheerful personality and a calm resilience that perfectly balanced Sheinelle’s own qualities.

After sharing the sad news of Uche’s passing, Sheinelle expressed her gratitude for everyone’s kindness and support.

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2025-11-13 00:50