Kentucky Derby 2025: Dylan Dreyer Shares Update on Sheinelle Jones Amid Today Absence (Exclusive)
Sheinelle Jones is navigating a devastating family death.
The Today cohost's husband Uche Ojeh recently passed away at age 45 after a "courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma," Savannah Guthrie shared during the morning show's May 23 broadcast.
“There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children," Guthrie said of the couple's kids Kayin Ojeh, 15, and 12-year-old twins Clara Ojeh and Uche Ojeh. "Uche was an incredible person. We all loved him. And so we want to take a moment to tell you more about the remarkable man who was Sheinelle’s perfect partner in life.”
Moments after the announcement, Jones shared the Today segment on her Instagram, writing, "Thank you, for all of your love and support."
While the pair kept much of their relationship private, they shared many sweet moments with her Today family behind the scenes.
“One thing he always talked about—he talked about those kids,” Craig Melvin shared on Today. “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," Melvin added. "He was at all the concerts, the recitals. He was that guy, and they had such a beautiful love story.”
Earlier this month, Jones' friend and colleague Dylan Dreyer addressed her months-long absence from Today.
“She's doing all right,” she told E! News at the 2025 Kentucky Derby May 3. “She's hanging in there. We're praying for her and her family. You know, she's just going through a tough time with her family.”
Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
“We talk to her every day,” Dreyer added. “One of us on the team talks to her every single day, and we're there to support her, and we'll welcome her back with open arms the second she can get back to us.”
Keep reading for more celebrity health journeys.
Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
Colin Egglesfield
The All My Children alum announced in January 2025 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his third cancer diagnosis throughout his life.
Despite the devastating news, he announced (for the third time) in February 2025 he was cancer-free following successful surgery and treatments.
“Remember, you’re not defined by any of your challenges," he wrote in his February 2025 Instagram update. "You’re grander than it all. I’m not my fear, my anxiousness or my scars but I embrace it all because the only way to transform it is to own it.”
Taylor Hill/WireImage
Gerry Turner
The former Golden Bachelor star shared in Dec. 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, a bone cancer.
"Unfortunately, there's no cure for it,” Gerry noted to People at the time. “So that weighs heavily in every decision I make. It was like 10 tons of concrete were just dropped on me. And I was a bit in denial for a while, I didn't want to admit to it.”
Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Jim Beaver
The actor, known for roles in The Boys and Supernatural, shared on Feb. 3, 2023, that he had battled prostate cancer for years and was cancer free.
Tommy Garcia/Bravo
Ariana Madix
"I had to have a lil bit o'cancer removed from my body and lymph nodes biopsied," the Vanderpump Rules star revealed to fans at the close of 2018. "(In the clear now!)"
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Marcia Cross
The Desperate Housewives star revealed to fans in September 2018 that she survived anal cancer. "After posting a picture of myself here and uttering the words #cancer and #hairloss, I feel liberated, deliriously free and completely me," she shared on Instagram.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Dustin Hoffman
The two-time Oscar winner underwent successful treatment for cancer, and his rep confirmed to E! News that doctors deemed Hoffman "surgically cured."
J.H. SAUNDERS/Landov
Hugh Jackman
The X-Men star was treated for his third basal cell carcinoma back in 2014, and after his third treatment, Jackman's rep told E! News that he's "all good" now.
In April 2023, Hugh had two biopsies for additional basal cell carcinoma. At the time, he told fans, "If I can just take this opportunity to remind you summer is coming for those of us in the northern hemisphere, please wear sunscreen."
Adam Olszweski/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank
Camille Grammer
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star celebrated one year of being cancer-free in January. The mother of two was diagnosed with endometrial cancer back in 2013 and underwent a radical hysterectomy.
Then in 2017, Camille had surgery to remove Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Cobie Smulders
The Avengers: Age of Ultron actress battled ovarian cancer at the age of 25 and overcome odds when she welcomed two children with husband Taran Killam.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Dr. Drew Pinsky
TV host reveals he underwent surgery for prostate cancer in July 2013 and has since been given a clean bill of health.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Brooke Burke
The Dancing with the Stars cohost underwent successful surgery for thyroid cancer. The mother of four tweeted, "Thx for all the twitter love. I'm [home] recovering & resting."
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Angie Everhart
"MY DR CALLED ME ON A SAT. MORNING TO TELL ME I AM CANCER FREE!!!!! #wootothemotherf--kinhoo," the actress tweeted after receiving the good news.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Christina Applegate
The Up All Night star was declared "100-percent clear" of breast cancer after treatment and a double mastectomy.
Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Michael C. Hall
The Dexter star used a hiatus from his hit series to slay Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Michelle Monaghan
The Australian actress revealed in October 2011 that she had a cancerous mole removed from her calf after her hubby encouraged her to get the suspicious-looking mark checked out.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
Ewan McGregor
The Scot is trainspotting just fine these days after having a cancerous mole removed from beneath his right eye.
Brad Barket/Getty Images for Happy Hearts Fund
Sheryl Crow
The singer beat breast cancer in 2004 with a "minimally invasive" lumpectomy and radiation therapy.
Grant Lamos IV/Getty Images
Michael Douglas
The Oscar winner declared in early 2011 that his tumor was gone and he had throat cancer "beat."
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Edie Falco
The Emmy winner whacked breast cancer in 2004.
Doug Meszler / Splash News
Anderson Cooper
Surely the CNN veteran wears his SPF when he's braving the elements now after having a cancerous growth removed from under his left eye in 2008.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage
Kylie Minogue
The Australian pop star underwent successful surgery for breast cancer in 2005.
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
Barry Watson
The 7th Heaven star was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease when he was only 28. He's 50 now and looking good!
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Maura Tierney
The ER fave had to abandon her role in Parenthood to fight breast cancer in 2009—but her treatment was a success and she was back on the red carpet in no time.
CBS
Sharon Osbourne
The America's Got Talent judge was diagnosed with colon cancer while shooting The Osbournes in 2002 and used the opportunity to stress the importance of regular screenings while attacking the #@%! with chemotherapy. She was declared cancer-free the following year.
Jemal Countess/Getty Images for the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival
Robert De Niro
The Oscar winner took prostate cancer down, down to Chinatown, in 2003, and has been in about 400 movies since then.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Robin Roberts
The Good Morning America cohost proudly flaunted her smooth scalp while undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer in 2007.
Robert Laberge/Getty Images
Lance Armstrong
The champion cyclist battled back from stage-four testicular cancer before winning seven straight Tour de France titles.
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
Melissa Etheridge
The Grammy and Oscar winner became an inspiring activist after a lumpectomy and chemotherapy cleared her of breast cancer in 2005.
Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for LA Times
Julia Sweeney
The former Saturday Night Live standout mined her breast cancer battle for comedic material that turned into God Said Ha!, her successful one-woman show that eventually went to Broadway.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Cynthia Nixon
The Sex and the City star was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, and after surgery and radiation treatments, she was given the clear.