Hoda Kotb is ready to cheer on Sheinelle Jones in her new role as Jenna Bush Hager‘s cohost on the fourth hour of the Today show.
“Ok. I am weeping—- just watched @jennabhager and @sheinelle_o show us what a match made in heaven looks like. So proud of you both…#proudmom @jennaandfriends @todayshow,” Kotb, 61, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, December 9, alongside a screenshot of the Today show’s official announcement.
Kotb began to helm the morning show’s fourth hour in 2007 and was joined by Kathie Lee Gifford the following year. Gifford, 72, was succeeded by Bush Hager, 44, in 2019.
Last year, Kotb announced her plans to leave the Today show after nearly three decades working at NBC. “I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new. This is the right time for me to move on,” she explained at the time, noting that her daughters, Haley, 8, and Hope, 6, were a big reason behind her decision.
Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager’s Best BFF Moments Over the Years
Kotb praised Bush Hager as her “ride-or-die” cohost, gushing that she would “miss each and every” anchor she shared the screen with through the years.
Kotb’s final episode aired in January, and ever since, Bush Hager has featured a rotating selection of celebrity guest hosts on the fourth hour, from Scarlett Johansson to comedian Matt Rogers. Jones previously sat beside Bush Hager in September.
“Hopefully this will be a date where you walk away and go, ‘OK, hopefully she calls me tomorrow!’” Jones teased at the time, as Bush Hager promised, “You’re coming back.”
Bush Hager proudly introduced Jones once again on Tuesday, telling Today show viewers, “You all know her, she’s an extraordinary broadcaster, but more importantly, she exemplifies exactly what this show is all about.”
The pair shared an emotional embrace as Jones stepped out on stage. “I knew I was going to cry before you walked out, I tried not to,” Bush Hager joked.
Jones will officially begin cohosting the fourth hour in the new year, stepping away from her position on the third hour. Craig Melvin, Dylan Dreyer and Al Roker will continue to lead the 9 a.m. broadcast.
What the ‘Today’ Hosts, Celebs Have Said About Finding Hoda’s Replacement
“This marks an exciting new chapter for the fourth hour,” read a statement from Today executive vice president Libby Leist and Jenna & Friends executive producer Talia Parkinson-Jones on Tuesday. “Jenna and Sheinelle are two extraordinary talents who have grown within the ranks of Today. They are beloved for their authenticity, warmth and genuine connection with our Today audience.”
The duo added, “Sheinelle has been a cherished member of NBC News for more than 11 years. From standout interviews with newsmakers and celebrities to her iconic Halloween performances as Beyoncé and Tina Turner, she has captivated audiences time and again.”
Jones took a leave of absence from the morning show earlier this year following the death of her husband, Uche Ojeh, at age 45. The couple had been married since 2007, welcoming son Kayin in 2009 and twins Clara and Uche Jr. in 2012. Ojeh died after battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.