Today Fan Favorite Seals the Deal as Jenna Bush Hager’s Permanent Co-Anchor
After months of rotating seats, a Today fan favorite has officially claimed the chair beside Jenna Bush Hager as her permanent co-anchor, priming the morning show for a fresher, livelier run.
Well, this one feels overdue: Sheinelle Jones is officially Jenna Bush Hager's permanent co-anchor for the fourth hour of Today. After months of rotating guests and a very public search, the show finally locked it in.
So what happened, and when does it start?
Jenna announced it on Tuesday, December 9, with Sheinelle set to slide into the chair starting Monday, January 12, 2026. That day, the show ditches its placeholder title and rebrands from "Today With Jenna & Friends" to "Today With Jenna & Sheinelle."
The backstory (and the search that took forever)
The show cycled through about 60 potential co-hosts before landing on Jones. Yes, 60. If you watch the fourth hour, this choice makes sense: Jenna and Sheinelle already have reps as pinch-hitters. Back when Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb were off, these two often filled in together, and the chemistry was already there.
What Sheinelle is stepping away from
Jones will exit the 3rd Hour of TODAY to focus on the 10 AM hour with Jenna. The 9 AM team stays as-is: Craig Melvin, Dylan Dreyer, and Al Roker will continue their co-hosting duties.
Where Sheinelle has been, and why this lands hard
Jones, 47, has been part of the Today ecosystem for years, from co-anchoring the weekend broadcast to popping up across the weekday editions. This promotion comes after a brutal spring: she took time off in May as her husband battled brain cancer and was away again later that month for his funeral. She called this new chapter a dream, and the first people she told were her kids — Kayin, Clara, and Uche — because their house needed something good right now.
When I came back from leave, I talked about fighting for my joy. This is what it looks like.
How NBC is framing the move
Jenna introduced Jones as an 'extraordinary broadcaster' who fits what the hour wants to be. Behind the scenes, Today executive VP Libby Leist and "Jenna & Friends" EP Talia Parkinson-Jones praised the pairing as two talents audiences connect with because they feel real. They also pointed out Jones has been with NBC News for more than 11 years — doing everything from high-profile interviews to Halloween showstoppers as Beyonce and Tina Turner. If you know, you know.
Quick hits
- Announcement: Tuesday, December 9
- First day: Monday, January 12, 2026
- New title: "Today With Jenna & Sheinelle" (retiring "Jenna & Friends")
- Sheinelle leaves: 3rd Hour of TODAY
- 3rd Hour lineup stays: Craig Melvin, Dylan Dreyer, Al Roker at 9 AM
- Search scale: roughly 60 candidates tried out before the decision
- Personal note: Jones returned to work after taking leave in May during her husband's brain cancer battle and his funeral later that month
Bottom line: a smart, human choice that also feels like the obvious one. The fourth hour gets a co-anchor with history on the show, real on-air chemistry with Jenna, and a comeback story that viewers will rally around.