In an emotionally charged conversation, Sheinelle Jones opened up about the heartfelt advice she received from her “Today” co-host, Savannah Guthrie, following the devastating death of her husband, Uche Ojeh.
Sheinelle, a mother of three, lost her husband to an aggressive form of brain cancer last year, leaving her to raise their children Kayin, 16, and twins Uche Jr. and Clara, 13, on her own. During a recent interview with Jenna Bush Hager on the Open Book With Jenna podcast, Sheinelle revealed how Savannah’s personal experience with loss helped guide her through her own grief.
“One thing Savannah taught me, because her father passed away when she was just 16, is that you don’t have to try to be the superhero,” Sheinelle shared, expressing how this advice provided her with tremendous comfort during the darkest moments of her life.
Savannah, who has been going through her own heartbreaking ordeal with her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing since February 1, also shared how important it was for Sheinelle to remind her son Kayin that he doesn’t need to “be the father of the house” and can still “be a kid.”
Sheinelle Jones shared that her “Today” co-worker Savannah Guthrie (pictured here in 2024) taught her “a couple of things” that helped her after the death of her husband, Uche Ojeh.
“It’s been a rough road, but I’ve had to lean on friends, especially those who’ve gone through similar losses,” Sheinelle confessed. “I’ve connected with other widows, it’s like a quiet club no one asks to join.”
The anchor (pictured here in 2021) recalled the journalist telling her: “You don’t have to try to be the superhero,” which “actually helped” Jones “tremendously.”
Savannah, who took a temporary break from Today after her mother’s disappearance, has been trying to balance her role as a TV personality while enduring the anguish of not knowing where her mother is. Her father, Charles Guthrie, passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack when she was just 16 years old, making the pain of losing a parent something Savannah knows all too well.
The Today star first shared the devastating news of Uche’s death with the public on behalf of Sheinelle last spring, honoring her late friend with a heartfelt tribute. Sheinelle’s emotional return to Today in September 2025 marked her attempt to regain some sense of normalcy after the tragedy.
“I worried that I wouldn’t know how to smile again,” Sheinelle admitted. “I’ve never done this job without him, and I was terrified of it not being the same.”
Meanwhile, Savannah has been tirelessly searching for her mother, who was reportedly taken in the middle of the night, wearing nothing but her pajamas. Savannah’s emotional return to Today on April 6 was a bittersweet moment for her fans, who have watched her go through this public crisis with grace and strength.
Savannah shared a deeply personal moment during a conversation with Hoda Kotb, revealing that the guilt she feels over her mother’s disappearance has been overwhelming. Through tears, she expressed, “I’m so sorry, Mommy. I’m sorry to my sister, my brother, my kids. I just want to bring her home.”
As Savannah continues to search for answers, she recalled an intimate moment when she spoke to God during the early days of her mother’s disappearance. “I can handle anything, God. I can handle anything. I just can’t handle not knowing,” she said. “And then I heard a voice say, ‘You do know where she is. She’s with Me. She’s with Me.’ Whether she’s still here on Earth or in Heaven, I know where she is, and I know who she’s with.”
Stay tuned as this heartbreaking journey continues to unfold, reminding us of the powerful bonds we share with loved ones—and the unimaginable strength it takes to endure such heartache.
