How Hoda Kotb Reacted to Sheinelle Jones’ Jenna & Friends Co-Host News

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Hoda Kotb couldn’t be happier.

I was so thrilled when Sheinelle Jones was named Jenna Bush Hager’s permanent co-host on the fourth hour of Today! It’s now called Today With Jenna & Sheinelle, starting in January, and it was really sweet to see Jenna share her advice and experience with Sheinelle as she stepped into the role.

Sheinelle described a phone call with Hoda where Hoda told her to just listen, then shared a powerful 45-second piece of advice that had a profound impact. Sheinelle recalled Hoda saying to remember the moment, as it would become a pivotal point she discussed in future speeches – a time when she made the best decision for both her career and her children.

She went on to say about Hoda’s kind words, “Working with Jenna will be even more amazing than you think. You’re really going to enjoy it.”

After talking with Hoda, Sheinelle felt fully prepared and excited to begin her new job on January 8, 2026.

“When I hung up with Hoda last night,” she noted, “I was like, “’Let’s step into it.’”

Sheinelle Jones is taking on a new position at Today just eleven months after Hoda Kotb finished her run as host of the fourth hour, following 17 years with Jenna Bush Hager and former co-host Kathie Lee Gifford. After Hoda’s departure, Jenna co-hosted with a variety of guests for several months, including Brooke Shields, Olivia Munn, and Scarlett Johansson.

After nearly a year-long search, Jenna was thrilled to officially introduce Sheinelle as her new co-host on set.

Oh my gosh, you guys, I’m practically bursting! Jenna just announced she’s found the one – her forever friend! And get this, they’re starting this amazing new chapter together in January! I seriously can’t even breathe! She said we all know this incredible woman, that she’s a total pro on TV, but even more than that, she’s everything their show stands for. I’m so happy for Jenna, and I’m dying to know who it is!

It was really touching watching Jenna and Sheinelle talk about their ten years together. You could just feel the connection they’ve built, both as friends and colleagues. It definitely got me a little emotional seeing how much their relationship means to both of them.

Okay, seriously, just hearing her say she gets to sit next to Sheinelle… it melts me! They’ve been friends for ten years, which is amazing, but she said it’s going to be like falling even more in love with her while working on the show! It’s going to be the sweetest thing ever, honestly. I can’t wait to watch them together – it’s going to be a beautiful chapter, just like she said!

As I get ready to join Jenna on Today With Jenna & Sheinelle, I’ve been looking ahead at all the exciting new shows coming out in 2026, and I wanted to share a peek at what’s premiering!

 

Fourteen talented drag queens are entering the competition this season, vying for the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar. The winner will also receive a makeup collaboration with Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics and a $200,000 prize sponsored by the video game RuPaul’s Drag Race Match Queen.

Season 36 of Oxygen’s true crime series debuts Jan. 4.

Nathan Fillion returns for season eight of the procedural.

Ramón Rodríguez and team return to solve more cases on season four.

Amy is busy planning her wedding to Brian, and it’s going to be a unique Halloween event! She’s adding lots of spooky touches, from creepy decorations to a fun bachelorette party in New Orleans, to make sure her wedding is truly memorable.

Tammy is starting a fresh, exciting phase of her life. After having surgery to remove excess skin, she’s really stepping up – volunteering at an animal shelter and taking on more responsibilities as she approaches 40. She’s also planning to move in with her girlfriend, Andrea, and their relationship is becoming a central part of Tammy’s journey towards greater independence and new possibilities.

Even with all the love, the sisters are facing more conflict than ever before. The show, 1000-Lb Sisters, explores complicated family relationships, jealousy, and each sister’s journey to grow and change, all with a mix of drama, heartwarming moments, and humor.

The twelfth season of the show will feature twenty new celebrities joining Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. to explore their family history and trace their roots back through the generations.

The show follows Dr. Martin Best (Josh Charles), a highly skilled surgeon who unexpectedly gives up his successful career in Boston to become a small-town doctor in the coastal village where he grew up. However, his direct and sometimes harsh manner doesn’t sit well with the town’s eccentric residents, and he quickly makes enemies, despite being their only doctor. While Martin is capable of solving any medical problem, he secretly just wants to be left alone. Instead, he keeps getting pulled into the personal dramas, arguments, and quirks of the townspeople. Unbeknownst to them, Martin’s gruff exterior hides a new, crippling phobia and past trauma that prevent him from forming close relationships. But the determined and persistent nature of the villagers might be exactly what he needs.

Season 14 debuts with new mystery celebrities.

This show, a continuation of The Valley, centers on a close group of Persian friends who’ve moved from the glamorous Beverly Hills to a more typical suburban life. We see them balancing marriage, raising kids, and successful careers, but as they do, tensions and problems start to surface in their relationships with each other. Coming from a culture that prioritizes family, friendship, and loyalty, they experience intense emotions as they navigate the ups and downs of life.

In season four, luck and chance play a huge role as players risk everything within the castle walls. Every decision, partnership, and act of backstabbing could completely alter the course of the game.

Anna, a former news anchor in hot and humid Atlanta, has withdrawn from life, losing touch with friends and her career. When she learns about a murder in her quiet hometown of Dahlonega, she’s driven to investigate. However, Detective Jack Harper becomes wary of her involvement, and she finds herself under his scrutiny. Everyone has their own version of events, and in this case, HIS & HERS, someone isn’t telling the truth.

The Hunting Party is a thrilling crime series centered around a team of investigators, led by ex-FBI profiler Rebecca “Bex” Henderson (Melissa Roxburgh). Their mission: to recapture a group of the world’s most dangerous criminals who’ve all escaped from a secret, off-the-books government prison known only as “The Pit.” As Bex and her team hunt these fugitives, they uncover a disturbing truth: the prison itself is far more sinister than the killers it held, and wasn’t simply a place to contain them.

This story is based on the real lives of people struggling to survive in London’s tough East End during the 1880s. A year has passed, and Hezekiah is a broken man, while Sugar Goodson is isolated from his family and battling alcoholism. Just when the neighborhood of Wapping seems doomed, Mary Carr returns with her trusted ally, Alice Diamond, determined to rebuild her gang and take back control. Mary always has a plan, and this one is her most dangerous yet, threatening everyone she cares about.

Okay, so I’m completely hooked on this new OWN show, Maxxed Out! It’s seriously intense – it really gets into how much stress money problems cause for families and their friends all over the country. It’s not just about numbers, it’s about the feelings – the heartache, the arguments… it’s a wild ride and I can’t look away!

This eight-part series honestly explores how financial issues – and poor money management – can damage close relationships. Each episode looks at the surprising decisions that led to financial hardship and the difficult steps people took to fix things.

Season three of Tell Me Lies picks up with Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White) trying to make their complicated relationship work as they return to Baird College. Despite hoping for a fresh start, old mistakes continue to cause problems, and Lucy unexpectedly becomes caught up in a scandal. The fallout from the previous year also forces Lucy and Stephen’s friends to confront their own damaging patterns. As secrets spread across campus, serious consequences loom for Lucy and those around her.

Get ready for a new season of Fear Factor, now called Fear Factor: House of Fear! Hosted by the hilarious Johnny Knoxville, the show drops a group of strangers into a tough, isolated location where they’ll live together and face incredibly challenging and scary stunts. They’ll also have to navigate a complicated social game where trusting others is risky. In the end, only one contestant will overcome their fears and win a huge cash prize!

Five women experiencing menopause – a teacher, a police officer, a pub owner, a midwife, and a woman known for petty theft – decide to start a punk rock band and enter a local talent show. As they bond through music, they discover unexpected passions and a surprising, emotional connection between the teacher, Beth, and the freeloader, Kitty.

Season two debuts.

Season four debuts.

From the world of Westeros comes an endearing tale centered on the adventures of an unexpected duo. 

The second season of this international drama follows Camille and Issei as they embark on their most dangerous mission yet: discovering the source of the world’s most famous wine. This mystery stumped even their father, Alexandre Léger. What starts as a quest to honor their family history quickly becomes a search for the truth, taking them across continents and through centuries of forgotten stories, long-held grudges, and deeply buried secrets. As they push themselves to their limits, both geographically and emotionally, Camille and Issei must confront how far they’re willing to go. The answer could break their sibling relationship…or even be their undoing.

The ninth season of American Idol is coming to ABC, marking the show’s 24th season overall. Fan favorites Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood are back as judges, along with host Ryan Seacrest. This year, Idol is shaking things up by holding the famous Hollywood Week auditions in Nashville. Called “Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover,” this round will be a single, high-stakes performance where contestants from all music backgrounds compete – and face the biggest cuts in Idol history.

Inspired by the book and critically acclaimed 2003 Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer, Memory of a Killer is a suspenseful thriller. Emmy-nominated actor Patrick Dempsey stars as Angelo Doyle, a hitman living a double life and concealing a dangerous secret.

Season two of the family reality competition series debuts.

In Shrinking, Jason Segel plays a therapist dealing with his own grief who starts being brutally honest with his patients. He throws caution to the wind, abandoning professional boundaries and dramatically impacting the lives of those he treats – and ultimately, his own.

Season four centers on Benedict (Luke Thompson), the second Bridgerton son. While his brothers have found happiness in marriage, Benedict isn’t interested in settling down—that is, until he’s captivated by a mysterious woman in silver at a ball hosted by their mother.

The cooking competition series returns for season five.

Strangers are abandoned in a harsh and isolated environment and forced to live together. They’ll battle through incredible physical challenges and a complex social game where trusting anyone is risky, and fear can be used against them. In the end, only one person will overcome their fears and win a huge cash prize.

I was immediately drawn to Memory of a Killer after hearing it was inspired by the fantastic Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer. It’s a really gripping thriller, and Patrick Dempsey gives an incredible performance as Angelo Doyle, a hitman with a secret life. What makes it truly compelling is that Angelo is starting to develop early-onset Alzheimer’s, which he’s desperately trying to hide while navigating this incredibly dangerous job. It adds a whole other layer to the story!

Michael Imperioli plays Dutch, Angelo’s longtime friend and a talented chef. However, Dutch’s restaurant is secretly used for illegal activities.

Captain Jason Chambers is once again leading the superyacht Katina, with returning crew members Ben Robinson as Chef, Daisy Kelliher as Chief Stew, and João Franco as Second Officer, all heading their respective departments. Alesia Harris is also back as Sous Chef.

I’m so excited about the new team joining us this season! We’ve got Joe Caron and Jenna Woudberg stepping in as stews, and Mike Durrant who’s a fantastic addition as both deck and stew. Rounding out the crew are deckhands Eddy Hounsell and Betul Yazici – I think they’ll all bring a lot to the table!

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2025-12-09 22:18