Studying Time: 4 minutes
For a number of months now, Immediately viewers have been expressing concern for Sheinelle Jones.
The beloved host’s ongoing absence started because the present was present process some main retooling.
As you’ve seemingly heard, Hoda Kotb has stepped away earlier this 12 months after almost 17 years on the anchors’ desk. And she or he’s been changed by Craig Melvin, who will now be seated alongside Savannah Guthrie for the present’s “flagship hours.”
Clearly, there’s been a number of protection surrounding these modifications. However Sheinelle’s absence was principally swept beneath the rug.
The place Is Sheinelle Jones?
Should you’re an everyday Immediately viewer, you might need seen that Sheinelle Jones has been lacking from the present since earlier than Christmas.
She missed the weeklong “Hodabration” in Kotb’s last episodes, and curiously, Sheinelle’s colleagues scarcely acknowledged her absence on the time.
“Sheinelle is off,” Al Roker briefly defined on January 10 earlier than introducing her non permanent alternative, Jill Martin.
Not surprisingly, the scenario has sparked concern amongst followers.
However on the Monday, April 14 episode of Immediately, co-host Craig Melvin addressed Sheinelle’s absence throughout a dialog with visitor correspondent, Entry Hollywood‘s Emily Orozco
“I just talked to her a couple days ago — she’s taking some time to be with her family and we talk to her all the time,” Melvin stated. “We love our girl. It’s been nice to see how much everyone loves her, too.”
“Exactly,” Roker added. “We’re just praying for her.”
The hosts added that Sheinelle has been coping with “a family matter.”
“She misses being here — she misses being here with us, but she’s doing what she needs to do,” Dylan Dreyer stated, including, “She’ll be back.”
Sheinelle’s Response
Earlier this 12 months, the 46-year-old issued a press release by which she defined that she’s coping with “a family health matter.”
“Hi everybody … I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I’ve been absent from the show,” Sheinelle wrote on Instagram.
“I want to share with you that I’m taking time to deal with a family health matter,” she continued.
“It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my Today Show family, but to also have all of you. Your kindness means so much to me.”
The assertion was learn on the air by Savannah Guthrie.
“We know so many of you have been asking about Sheinelle, and missing her, and we miss her, too,” unhappy an emotional Savannah stated after sharing Sheinelle’s phrases.
“Sheinelle, we all love you, and we are so looking forward to having you back,” Craig Melvin added.
An Outpouring of Concern
The replace follows months by which Immediately viewers expressed each day considerations about Sheinelle.
“Another day without @SheinelleJones on @TODAYshow and no explanation? What is going on? We need answers,” an X (previously Twitter consumer) named Terrace Miller tweeted throughout a latest broadcast.
And as Parade factors out, Terrace was not alone in her confusion:
“Not even a recorded piece from @SheinelleJones on the @TODAYshow for @hodakotb‘s last day?! Seems odd. Hope she’s ok,” one other consumer wrote amid Hoda’s farewell social gathering.
“I wonder if she got fired or didn’t take a pay cut or something as they don’t mention her. Best wishes Hoda and best to Sheinelle hope all is well!” a 3rd viewer wrote.
“I loved the HODA bration but really wondered why Sheinelle Jones wasn’t among the cast?” a fourth particular person requested.
“@TODAYshow can u tell us where Sheinelle Jones is? So odd she is missing the #Hoda K’s farewell!” a fifth chimed in.
Questions Stay
Some followers took solace in the truth that this was not the primary time she’s stepped away from Immediately.
Sheinelle took a quick hiatus in November of 2024 in an effort to attend a convention.
“I wasn’t here Friday, I went right outside of Philadelphia to speak with the Society of Professional Women,” she stated upon her return on November 18.
On the time, Jones defined that she “stayed until the very end and talked to almost every single one of the women when it was over. I love that kind of stuff.”
Sheinelle’s assertion will quell a number of fears, however we nonetheless know little or no in regards to the scenario that pressured her to step away. We want Sheinelle and her household all the very best.
We’ll have additional updates on this creating story as new info turns into accessible.
