NBC Today anchor Sheinelle Jones has shared her most personal story yet, speaking publicly about the heartbreaking loss of her husband Uche Ojeh, who passed away in May at the age of 45 after battling glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.
After being absent from Today for much of the year, Jones returned on Friday, where a pre-taped interview with co-anchor Savannah Guthrie aired. It was her first time opening up about the painful journey. “My heart is shattered in a million pieces,” Jones said, reflecting on the end of a life she had shared with Ojeh since she was 19. Together, they built a family with three children, who are now left without their father.
Jones described the experience as a “beautiful nightmare.” While it was devastating to watch a vibrant man — an athlete who had competed in triathlons and lived for soccer and family — face such a fight, she also found moments of beauty in the love and faith they shared. Nurses called them “love birds,” as they often sat silently holding hands, echoing the quiet companionship they had enjoyed since their college days.
She recalled living with his diagnosis privately, balancing her public career with private pain. For nearly a year, she appeared on Today while supporting Ojeh through treatments. “My joy is real,” she emphasized. “I would do the show and then hop in the car and go be with him during chemo.”
Even as the illness progressed, Jones admitted she believed her husband would survive. When she eventually took a leave of absence, it was to ensure she didn’t miss a single moment: “I was his oxygen sometimes.”
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Now, Jones has found strength in embracing her grief. She calls tears her “cleansing rain” and credits her husband’s faith with giving her perspective. “If Uche can have faith when his life is on the line, surely I can.”
Returning to Today, Jones hopes to inspire others facing hardship. “Cancer doesn’t have to steal our joy. We can still squeeze the most out of the days we have,” she said. “Uche’s heartbeat lives on in mine. I owe it to him to live fully.”
Married nearly two decades after meeting at Northwestern University, Jones and Ojeh built a partnership rooted in love, resilience, and family. Her message today is clear: even through immense loss, she chooses joy and encourages others to do the same.
