TODAY has officially entered a new era on the 2026 TV schedule. In December, less than a year after Hoda Kotb exited the morning talk show, it was announced that TODAY’s third hour co-anchor Sheinelle Jones would be joining Jenna Bush Hager in the fourth hour in the new year. The former First Daughter has had rotating guest hosts all year after Kotb left, so she could look for the perfect replacement. Now that the fourth hour has officially been renamed TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle, Kotb is gushing like a proud mom over the two hosts.
When the fourth hour was renamed TODAY with Jenna & Friends, it was unknown when and if Bush Hager would pick a permanent replacement. In June, she said they were still searching, so when Jones, who took a leave of absence from TODAY for several months following the death of her husband last year, it was a pleasant surprise. Jones is already familiar to TODAY viewers, having initially joined the NBC program in 2014. While speaking to People, Kotb reflected on the fourth hour and how excited she is to watch Bush Hager and Jones together:
