See Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford’s Special Reunion on Today Show

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Hoda Kotband Kathie Lee Giffordhave officially passed the torch.

Okay, you guys, it was SO fun to watch a little Today show magic happen this morning! Kathie Lee and Hoda surprised everyone with a cameo, decked out in Team USA gear. They did this adorable ‘passing the torch’ moment – and by torch, I mean a giant wine glass, naturally! – to officially welcome Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones as the new faces of the fourth hour. It was such a sweet and playful transition, and a lovely nod to the show’s history. As a lifestyle enthusiast, I always appreciate seeing these heartwarming moments!

“You two look fantastic together!” Hoda exclaimed on January 12th. “This is already such a wonderful day, and you both look so lovely together.”

When Sheinelle, recently named Hoda’s replacement after Hoda leaves in January 2025, began to cry, Jenna playfully acknowledged her tears of joy.

Jenna recounted that the other person said, ‘I shouldn’t be crying.’ Jenna responded by telling them, ‘You’re in the right place if you need to cry.’

Hoda chimed in, playfully noting, “You’re sitting right next to the most emotional person I know – Jenna Bush Hager!”

Sheinelle, who lost her husband Uche Ojeh to cancer in May, then shifted the conversation to Kathie Lee, who co-hosted the morning show with Hoda from 2008 to 2019.

Sheinelle told him, ‘You basically created this whole style of show.’ She admitted she used to watch and think, ‘As a news reporter, I’m not sure I could pull that off!’

The 47-year-old told Kathie Lee, “When I started the job, I let you know that I admired your pioneering work in this field.” Kathie Lee responded, “I knew!”

In addition to laughter, the crew took time to share sweet words with one another, too.

Hoda playfully acknowledged Kathie Lee as her mentor, explaining how she learned from her and initially felt hesitant to work independently. She then shared how proud she was when Jenna started her own journey, and now she’s excited to see Jenna mentoring someone new. It’s a full-circle moment of passing on knowledge and support.

Jenna fought back tears as she expressed her gratitude to Hoda and Kathie Lee, saying, “You created something amazing, and we both appreciate everything you’ve done for us. You’ve been incredibly kind.”

With Hoda and Kathie Lee moving on, Sheinelle is taking over! Here’s a closer look at the journalist, and a revisit to her relationship with Uche.

Sheinelle Jones, originally from Philadelphia, developed her passion for language and storytelling during her childhood in Wichita, Kansas. In a 2024 interview with Northwestern Magazine, she shared how her mother, Sheila Kinnard, intentionally filled their home with positive affirmations. She remembers seeing inspiring quotes, like ‘If you can see it, you can be it,’ even in her bathroom when she was in eighth grade.

Growing up, Jones was a busy high school student – she was a cheerleader, played the clarinet, and participated in student council. Her bedroom walls were decorated with pictures of her idols: pop star Janet Jackson and news anchors, including local Wichita personality Cindy Klose from KWCH 12.

I’ve always admired Sarah Jones’ drive. She really wanted to be a news reporter, and she worked hard to make it happen! She landed an internship at our local CBS station thanks to a connection her grandmother had through church – it was a fantastic opportunity for her, and she totally deserved it.

Oh my gosh, it was incredible! She was speaking at Northwestern’s journalism graduation in 2018, and she described how she’d completely surround herself with inspiring quotes. But the best part? She said she literally visualized herself as one of the news anchors she admired – she pictured her own black-and-white headshot right up there with theirs! She said she did it constantly, until it actually happened – her dream became real. It was so inspiring, I’ve been trying it ever since!

From the start of her time at Northwestern University, Jones worked relentlessly to gain experience. She landed an internship at an NBC station in Wichita, and then persistently contacted BET Networks until they offered her a summer position – even though it was unpaid. To cover her expenses while interning in Washington, D.C., she stayed with her sister and worked at a clothing store.

Using the skills she gained from studying journalism, Spanish, and public speaking, Jones began her broadcasting career at an NBC station in Springfield, Illinois. She then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she worked as a news anchor and reporter for a Fox station.

She then spent nine years with Fox’s award-winning Good Day Philadelphia. In 2014, Jones—the daughter of Kinnard and Judge C. Darnell Jones II, and one of five children—joined Weekend Today. She became co-host of the third hour of Today in 2019, and eventually co-hosted Today with Jenna & Sheinelle alongside Jenna Bush Hager.

In January 2025, the mother of Kayin, Clara, and Uche explained her departure from the desk she shared with Craig Melvin and Savannah Guthrie in a post on Instagram. She had quietly stepped away in December 2024.

Jones shared that they are focusing on a family health issue. They expressed gratitude for the support of their colleagues at the Today Show and the audience, saying their kindness is deeply appreciated.

I remember being shocked when I finally learned the full extent of what Savannah Jones was going through. In May, Savannah shared the heartbreaking news that her husband of 17 years, Uche Ojeh, had passed away after a really tough fight with glioblastoma, a very aggressive type of brain cancer. She announced it with such sadness, and it truly resonated with everyone watching.

Having experienced deep sadness, Jones has turned that experience into a lesson for her children: it’s okay to feel and express emotions. She shared with Today in September 2025 that she now views grief like a rainstorm. “Just like rain doesn’t last forever,” she explained, “I’ve learned to accept sadness when it comes, letting it wash over me instead of trying to avoid it. I now see grief as a way to cleanse and heal, and I allow myself to feel it when it arrives, knowing it will eventually pass.”

Oh my gosh, it’s just SO her! Apparently, the same brilliant, quick-thinking energy that made her career amazing is how she met her husband! She actually pretended to be a tour guide just to show him around campus – can you believe it?! She was literally on her way to class, but she told Northwestern Magazine she just decided to give him a personal tour because she thought he was cute. It’s the most adorable, wonderfully impulsive thing ever, and it totally makes sense for her!

After dating for eight years and a couple of playful mix-ups – once with a bracelet and again during a vacation to Cancun – they were back where their love story began, ready to plan a future together that would span decades.

Jones shared on the Today show in 2018 that they were visiting Northwestern University when her partner suggested they go to their favorite place by the lake, even though it was raining. She was reluctant to go out in the rain, but he persuaded her, and then he got down on one knee.

She married a Nigerian-born consultant, a managing partner at UAO Consulting who also enjoys competing in triathlons, in her hometown of Philadelphia in September 2007. They later had a son, Kayin, in August 2009, and twins Clara and Uche in July 2012.

I always try to teach my three kids to act like a team and look out for one another, as I shared with Today.

During her third week back at Today, Sheinelle Jones sat in the Jenna & Friends guest chair for the first time. Jenna Hager Bush surprised her friend with a heartfelt segment called “The Secret Society of Sheinelle,” featuring six of Jones’s closest friends who helped her through a difficult time and “put me back together,” as Hager put it.

Among the sixty people who have sat with Jenna Hager since Hoda Kotb left the show, Jones told her, “Let’s hope this date goes well enough that you’ll be hoping for a call tomorrow!”

Reader, she did. 

Before starting her new job on December 8th, Jones put on an old shirt of her husband’s and shared a special moment with her three children. She explained that she said a quick prayer and told herself it was time to work alongside someone she considered more than a friend – like a sister. Jenna Hager Bush agreed, saying there was no one she’d rather work with.

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2026-01-13 03:18