The “Today With Jenna and Sheinelle” host was celebrating her new book debut when the surprise was unveiled.

Sheinelle Jones tears up as her kids surprise her on Today set for first time since their father’s death

The "Today With Jenna and Sheinelle" host was celebrating her new book debut when the surprise was unveiled.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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April 14, 2026 1:27 p.m. ET

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Sheinelle Jones and children Uche Jr., Kayin, and Clara on 'Today With Jenna & Sheinelle'. Credit:

Sheinelle Jones is celebrating the release of her new book, dedicated to her three kids.

'Today' marked the occasion by surprising Jones with an appearance from her daughter and two sons.

The *Today With Jenna & Sheinelle *host got emotional while recalling a painful anecdote from her late husband's health struggles.

It wouldn't be a proper *Today* celebration without a surprise and plenty of tears.

Sheinelle Jones had a busy Tuesday morning, during which the anchor spent several hours promoting her new book, *Through Mom's Eyes*. During a sit-down with her co-host Jenna Bush Hager, Jones shared that she dedicated the book to the three kids she shares with her late husband, Uche Ojeh.

"I want my kids to know that they are my everything," she said of son Kayin, 16, and twins Clara Josephine and Uche Jr., both 13. "Because what I've realized is that tomorrow is not promised and I think because my life has been turned upside down and they've already lost a parent, it made me question, 'What would I want to leave on this planet? And what do I want to leave for my kids.'"

Tearing up, she continued, "If there's a time when I'm not with them, they have this book. And they know their mom through this book."

Hager, who was also visibly emotional, then revealed the big surprise: "We couldn't celebrate this book or this day without the three people [to] whom you dedicated [it]," she said.

Jones reacts to the surprise from her kids.

As Jones looked up in surprise, her kids emerged from backstage holding a bouquet of lilies for their mother.

"Are you serious?" Jones said, standing to greet them. There were tears and laughter as the family came together for a group hug.

Afterwards, Hager asked the kids if they had any words for their mother on the heels of her big book release day.

"Words can’t even describe it. I’m so happy for you, Mom," Kayin told Jones, who was still wiping away tears. "You’ve worked on this since quarantine. We’ve had the ups and downs. I mean, I remember when you lost your computer, it broke even… We’ve obviously gone through so much and I’m so happy for you."

Uche Jr. then weighed in, celebrating his mom for her "compassion and kindness," adding that she "has such a great effect on everybody."

Jones, husband Uche Ojeh and their three children.

Courtesy Sheinelle Jones

The trio then presented their mom with a framed quote from the book, which read, "I'm doing the best I can with the light I have to see by."

When asked for her thoughts on the book, Jones' daughter Clara gushed, "It’s good! I remember I was on the plane, and it was in her bag, and there were no TVs on the flight. Her phone was dead. And I was like, 'I want to read your book.' So I read it and I actually really liked it. It was so good."

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In a prior segment, Jones shared that *Through Mom's Eyes* was years in the making, sharing that she had been working on the project since before her husband, Ojeh, got sick.

"He pushed me to write this book," Jones shared of her late husband, who died last May at age 45 after being diagnosed with brain cancer. "He was fighting glioblastoma, which is a horrible brain cancer. After his very first brain surgery, he woke up and we didn't know— I didn't know how he would talk or would he be okay?"

But Jones said he was lucid and went on to recount the sweet moment they shared. "We gave each other a hug and we looked at each other," she recalled. "And then he goes, 'Where's your laptop? You said you were gonna write.'"

She continued, "This book means so much to me because the people who poured into me aren't with me, I feel like they're with me in heaven, but I'm still doing this for them, for sure."

Watch Jones celebrate the emotional milestone with her three kids in the clip above.

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Source: “EW Talk”