Sheinelle Jones has been absent from the morning show since December without explanation.
WASHINGTON — Uche Ojeh, the husband of ‘Today’ co-host Sheinelle Jones, has died after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer called Glioblastoma. He was 45.
The morning show announced the death Friday in a segment that was dedicated to celebrating Ojeh’s life and love of his family.
“With profound sadness, we share this morning that Uche Ojeh, the husband of our friend and ‘Today’ co-host Sheinelle Jones, has passed away after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma,” Savannah Guthrie told viewers.
Jones has been absent from the NBC morning show without explanation since December, although her co-hosts have given periodic updates. Last month, Craig Melvin, Al Roker, and Dylan Dreyer shared that Jones was dealing with an important family matter and they were “praying for her.”
In an Instagram post shortly after Friday’s broadcast, Jones thanked her co-hosts for their support and tributes about her husband.
“Thank you, for all of your love and support,” she captioned a clip of the ‘Today’ broadcast talking about Ojeh.
Glioblastoma is the most common form of brain cancer in adults, and is typically one of the most aggressive types. It is known for its rapid growth and invasion of surrounding brain tissue.
Jones and Ojeh had been married for 17 years. According to ‘Today,’ the couple met at Northwestern University in the late 90s when she offered to show him around campus on a tour. Eight years later, Ojeh proposed on the campus of their alma mater.
The couple have three children: Kayin, 15, and 12-year-old twins Uche and Clara.
“One thing he always talked about — he talked about those kids,” co-anchor Craig Melvin recounted on Friday. “He loved those kids more than anything else in this world, and was just so proud. He was that dad that was on the sideline at every soccer game. He was at all the concerts, the recitals. He was that guy, and they had such a beautiful love story.”
