Photo credit: Getty images
Sheinelle Jones shared an emotional moment on television after hearing Jordyn Woods speak about losing a parent at a young age.
The Today with Jenna & Sheinelle co-host has been navigating life after the death of her husband, Uche Ojeh, who passed away in May 2025 at age 45 following a battle with glioblastoma. Ojeh is survived by Jones and their three children, 16-year-old Kayin and 13-year-old twins Clara and Uche Jr.
Woods appeared as a guest on the June 17 episode of Today and reflected on losing her father, John Woods, in 2017 when she was 19 years old. During the conversation, she offered words of encouragement to Jones and others coping with similar loss.
Addressing the challenge of growing up without a parent, Woods said the pain never truly disappears, but people become stronger over time. She explained that while the loss remains, individuals learn how to carry it while continuing to move forward and honor their loved ones.
Her comments deeply resonated with Jones, who asked producers to keep the cameras rolling so she could respond. Fighting back emotion, Jones explained that seeing Woods thriving despite such a significant loss gave her comfort as a mother.
She said that whenever she meets someone who lost a parent young and later finds happiness, success and love, it reassures her that her own children will be okay. Watching Woods build a successful life gave her hope that her children can continue to grow, achieve their dreams and create meaningful lives despite their grief.
Woods responded by sharing her own experience. She described her father's death as one of the darkest periods of her life but said that over time she began to see positive opportunities emerge. She added that she often feels her father continues to guide and support her from afar, helping shape important moments in her life.
The conversation also touched on Woods' relationship with her fiancé, NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns. The couple connected through their shared experiences with loss. Towns lost his mother, Jackie, to COVID-19 complications in 2020.
Woods said their relationship has been strengthened by understanding each other's grief journeys and supporting one another through life's challenges.
Jones has also spoken openly about helping her children cope with their father's death. She recently shared that while the loss is painful for her, watching her children endure it has been even harder. Her goal is for them to carry their father's legacy with strength, resilience and purpose rather than sorrow alone.