TODAY fourth hour co-hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones are not meshing in the way execs had once envisioned, sources have told The U.S. Sun.
Sheinelle in January, one year after Hoda Kotb said goodbye to the NBC morning show.
Insiders told The U.S. Sun that tensions have been brewing behind the scenes on the fourth hour of the Today Show with Jenna Bush Hager and co-host Sheinelle Jones Credit: Getty
Sources said Sheinelle stepped into the role believing she was a n equal partner for Jenna Credit: Getty
One insider said tension between and Sheinelle began before the Today fourth-hour newbie even took her seat.
Jenna, who has hosted the hour for seven years, felt “blindsided” by producers’ decision to give Sheinelle the co-host position.
“In Jenna’s mind, this is her franchise now, and she didn’t think the final call should’ve been made without her full input,” an insider told The U.S. Sun.
One insider claimed Jenna had hoped one of her celebrity Jenna and Friends guest co-hosts would have taken over the second seat full-time. (Scarlett Johansson, Olivia Munn, Brooke Shields and other A-listers filled in between Hoda’s exit and Sheinelle’s start.)
Meanwhile, a production insider said that Sheinelle had a different perspective on stepping into the new fourth-hour role.
“Sheinelle walked into this believing they’d be true co-hosts.
“She absolutely does not see herself as second place to anyone.
“But backstage, Jenna sees Sheinelle more as support than an equal partner.”
Jenna had a slew of celebrity co-hosts, including Scarlett Johansson, filling in during the fourth hour Credit: Getty
Hoda Kotb left the Today Show in late 2024, which left an opening in the fourth hour of the morning show Credit: Getty
Seemingly Happy-go-lucky Jenna, who considers Today head anchor a very close friend, is more career-focused than she lets on, sources said.
One NBC insider claimed, “Jenna’s ambitions are much bigger than just the fourth hour.
“She’s popping up more on the earlier hours and making it clear she sees herself as one of the faces of the entire franchise.”
“There’s still resentment from some staffers who feel Jenna got an incredible opportunity despite having very little television experience at the beginning.
“The feeling was always that her last name opened doors,” the insider explained of Jenna’s father, President George W. Bush.
“But to be fair to Jenna, she spent years standing beside Hoda,” another source noted.
“She played the supporting role for a long time, so now she finally feels like it’s her moment to shine.”
A separate source insisted there is “zero tension” between the two hosts.
“They are dear friends who have supported each other for years, and even more so now that they are hosting a show together. The tired ‘catfight’ narrative that people are looking for does not exist here,” the source claimed.
But Today viewers have noticed some icy vibes between the two.
Ever since Sheinelle became official fourth hour co-host six months ago, fans have shared their thoughts on the morning show duo, and the .
A month ago, a fan posted to Reddit that they were “convinced Jenna hates Sheinelle” after an awkward exchange.
“Is it just me or do they not mesh together? Not only does it seem awkward, it also seems a little hostile at times,” said another.
Others said they believed Today would shake-up the pairing in the near future.
Sheinelle returned to Today in May 2025 after an extended absence to cope with her husband Uche Ojeh’s brain cancer diagnosis and death at just 45.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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