![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-1396757929-How-Todays-Al-Roker-and-Dylan-Dreyer-Are-Supporting-Sheinelle-Jones-After-Her-Husbands-Death.jpg?w=1000&quality=70&strip=all\")
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In a moment that will be remembered as one of the most poignant in TODAY Show history, beloved weatherman Al Roker delivered an emotional tribute to Uche Ojeh, the late husband of co-host Sheinelle Jones, that left the entire studio\u2014and viewers at home\u2014reaching for tissues. The outpouring of grief and love came during a recent broadcast on May 23, 2025, when the show announced the tragic passing of Ojeh at age 45 after a private battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Roker, known for his warmth and humor, became so immersed in sharing his memories of Ojeh that he didn\u2019t realize the profound impact his words were having on everyone around him until the moment had passed.<\/p>\n
The TODAY Show has always prided itself on being more than just a morning news program\u2014it\u2019s a family. And when one of their own suffers a loss, the entire team rallies together. Sheinelle Jones, a vibrant and beloved co-host of the show\u2019s third hour, has been absent since December 2024, citing a \u201cfamily health matter\u201d on Instagram. It wasn\u2019t until Savannah Guthrie\u2019s somber announcement that the public learned the heartbreaking truth: Uche Ojeh, Sheinelle\u2019s husband and father to their three children\u2014Kayin, 15, and twins Clara and Uche, 12\u2014had succumbed to his illness.<\/p>\n
As the news broke, the studio atmosphere shifted. Al Roker, a veteran of the show and a close friend to Jones, took the lead in paying tribute to Ojeh. What began as a heartfelt reflection quickly turned into an emotional outpouring that resonated deeply with his colleagues and the audience. \u201cI didn\u2019t even realize it at the time,\u201d Roker later shared in an exclusive interview with\u00a0Us Weekly<\/em> at Hoda Kotb\u2019s Joy 101 launch event in New York on May 28, 2025. \u201cI was just talking about Uche, about who he was, and then I looked up, and everyone was in tears. My voice was cracking, and I realized I was right there with them.\u201d<\/p>\n Uche Ojeh was, by all accounts, an extraordinary man. Described by his TODAY Show family as humble, wickedly funny, and fiercely devoted to his wife and children, Ojeh\u2019s quiet strength left an indelible mark on those who knew him. Roker, 70, recounted a particularly vivid memory that encapsulated his admiration for Ojeh. \u201cThere was this one moment that I\u2019ll never forget,\u201d he said, his voice softening. \u201cUche was training for a triathlon, and he showed up in this three-quarter wetsuit. I looked at him and thought, \u2018My God, it\u2019s the prince of Wakanda!\u2019 I said it out loud, and everyone laughed, but I meant it. He had this presence, this quiet confidence that just drew you in.\u201d<\/p>\n Roker\u2019s lighthearted anecdote, which he jokingly referred to as his \u201cman candy crush\u201d on Ojeh, was a testament to the late husband\u2019s charisma. But it was the deeper moments\u2014the private conversations, the way Ojeh lit up when talking about his kids\u2014that truly deepened Roker\u2019s affection. \u201cHe was the kind of guy who didn\u2019t need to be the loudest in the room,\u201d Roker shared. \u201cBut when he spoke, you listened. And when he laughed, you couldn\u2019t help but laugh with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Sheinelle Jones has always been a beacon of positivity on the TODAY Show, her infectious smile and warmth endearing her to viewers and colleagues alike. But behind the scenes, she was grappling with an unimaginable burden. According to a source close to the show, only a select few\u2014top executives and main anchors\u2014were aware of Ojeh\u2019s diagnosis. \u201cSheinelle kept it so private,\u201d the insider revealed. \u201cShe didn\u2019t want the focus to be on her pain. She was focused on her family, on being there for Uche and their kids.\u201d<\/p>\n Jones\u2019 absence from the show since December was a quiet one, with no public indication of the gravity of her situation. When she finally broke her silence on Instagram, sharing a clip of her colleagues\u2019 on-air tributes, her words were simple but heartfelt: \u201cThank you, for all of your love and support\u00a0 Dylan Dreyer, another close friend and co-host, spoke to\u00a0Us Weekly<\/em>\u00a0about the delicate balance of supporting Jones. \u201cShe\u2019s such a close friend, and I still don\u2019t have the words,\u201d Dreyer, 43, admitted. \u201cI\u2019ve reached out, but I don\u2019t want to push too hard. She\u2019s juggling so much right now. All I can say is, \u2018I\u2019m here. Whenever you need a hug, I\u2019ll be there in a second.\u2019 I pray for her every night.\u201d<\/p>\n The TODAY Show team has always been tight-knit, and their response to Ojeh\u2019s passing was no exception. Savannah Guthrie, who delivered the initial announcement, spoke with raw emotion, saying, \u201cThere are no words for the pain that we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. Uche was an incredible person. We all loved him.\u201d Her words set the tone for a broadcast filled with love and remembrance.<\/p>\n Each co-host shared their own memories of Ojeh, painting a picture of a man who was both larger-than-life and deeply grounded. Dreyer described him as a \u201cspecial guy,\u201d someone whose warmth and kindness left a lasting impression. \u201cI\u2019m so blessed to have gotten to know him,\u201d she said, her voice catching. \u201cHe had this way of making everyone feel seen.\u201d<\/p>\n Roker, however, was the one who brought the studio to a standstill. As he spoke, his voice grew hoarse, his usual jovial demeanor giving way to raw emotion. \u201cWe tend to say, \u2018I know what you\u2019re going through,\u2019 but nobody really knows unless you\u2019ve been there,\u201d he said on air. \u201cWe just want to be there for Sheinelle, to honor Uche\u2019s memory, because he\u2019s going to live on in those kids and in all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n As the TODAY Show navigates this loss, the focus remains on supporting Jones and her children. There is no set timeline for her return, with sources indicating that the team is giving her all the time she needs. \u201cEveryone is shocked and just so sad,\u201d the insider shared. \u201cShe\u2019s been so quiet, focusing on her family. No one can imagine what she\u2019s going through.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the TODAY Show family continues to celebrate each other\u2019s milestones, even in the face of grief. At Hoda Kotb\u2019s Joy 101 launch event, Roker and Dreyer were among those cheering on their former co-host, who left the show earlier in 2025 to pursue new ventures. \u201cShe\u2019s found her place,\u201d Roker said of Kotb, 60. \u201cWe\u2019re so thrilled for her.\u201d Dreyer added with a laugh, \u201cShe\u2019s too happy to come back!\u201d<\/p>\n But even in moments of joy, the shadow of loss lingers. For Roker, the memory of Uche Ojeh remains vivid\u2014a reminder of the fragility of life and the power of connection. \u201cHe was one of a kind,\u201d Roker said, his eyes glistening. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll carry him with us, always.\u201d<\/p>\n As Sheinelle Jones and her family navigate this heartbreaking chapter, they do so with the unwavering support of their TODAY Show family and viewers around the world. Uche Ojeh\u2019s legacy\u2014of love, laughter, and devotion\u2014lives on in the hearts of those who knew him, and in the tears shed in a studio that will never forget his impact.<\/p>\n Al Roker\u2019s Heartfelt Tribute to Uche Ojeh Leaves TODAY Show in Tears In a moment that will be remembered as one of the most poignant in TODAY… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18152,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nA Man Who Left a Lasting Impression<\/h2>\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-1186221234-How-Todays-Al-Roker-and-Dylan-Dreyer-Are-Supporting-Sheinelle-Jones-After-Her-Husbands-Death.jpg?w=1000&quality=40&strip=all\")
<\/p>\nA Family in Mourning<\/h2>\n
![\"\u2764\ufe0f\"](\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.1.0\/svg\/2764.svg\")
.\u201d The post was a rare glimpse into her grief, a moment of vulnerability from a woman known for her strength.<\/p>\nThe TODAY Show Family Rallies Around Jones<\/h2>\n
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A Legacy of Love<\/h2>\n
![\"Star](\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/H9nYwGyVUOY\/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwE7CK4FEIIDSFryq4qpAy0IARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJD8AEB-AH-CYAC0AWKAgwIABABGH8gEygoMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAtJu8pbXM7wjM1u_GmkVJxfFudzQ\")
<\/p>\n![\"Meet](\"https:\/\/img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net\/tenant\/amp\/entityid\/AA1FmNzu.img?w=768&h=455&m=6&x=248&y=305&s=619&d=241\")