A recent awkward exchange between hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones quickly made the rounds on social media.
Following a performance of Mumford & Sons on the Today Show last week, Jones, 48, admitted that she didn’t really know about the rock band, but is now a fan.
Her co-host Hager, 44, then claimed that she knew them differently, prompting Jones to start disclosing details from their meeting: ‘Jenna decided to share with them…’
But she was swiftly shut down by Hager who snapped: ‘No, I didn’t. No, I know what you mean, and we’re not saying that. Remember? I got a text that said, ‘Don’t say that.”
‘Oops!’ Jones said, perhaps realizing her faux pas.
This wasn’t the first time that the morning duo have been called out by viewers for ‘awkward’ banter and ‘no chemistry’, which some even described as ‘insufferable’ and ‘painful’ to watch.
Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones’ apparent onset tension has become more noticeable in recent weeks. The pair are the co-hosts of the Today Show’s fourth hour
‘They started out as close friends but have slowly started distancing themselves,’ a source told the Daily Mail (pictured together in July 2017)
And the dynamic is said to be ‘worse’ when the cameras stop rolling.
‘It’s no secret that Sheinelle and Jenna have had some tension on set,’ one insider told the Daily Mail. ‘And none of it is scripted. They’ve let it slip on camera but off camera, it’s worse.
‘They started out as close friends but have slowly started distancing themselves – those on set have definitely noticed.’
The insider said it was inevitable that they would ‘sour’ since they ‘both have strong personalities,’ describing their union as a ‘sisterly bond’ that is characterized by ‘ups and downs.’
‘Sometimes they’re the best of friends, sometimes they need space,’ the source said, claiming the pair have not been hanging out outside of work hours.
Jones, a Philadelphia native who spent most of her childhood in Wichita, Kansas, made her debut as the new fourth hour co-host on January 12.
Hers was a warm welcome from Hager who said she was ‘so excited about this new iteration of the show’ and that she was ‘so happy’ to have Jones by her side.
‘I’ve known [Sheinelle] for a decade but to get to fall even more in love with her will be, I think, a beautiful chapter in the show,’ she enthused.
Hager, who has co-hosted the fourth hour of the Today Show since 2019, ‘likes to take on the role of the lead on the show,’ per the source (pictured in October 2025)
‘The truth is Sheinelle really wants to shine,’ they said. ‘She’s worked so hard to get to where she’s at now that she doesn’t want to let anyone down’
Jones shared the sentiment, adding: ‘To have a show like this is beyond my wildest dreams. This is the real deal, and I get to do it with Jenna.’
The news anchor replaced Hoda Kotb, who left the show in January 2025, as a permanent host – after a rotation of celebrity stand-ins.
Jones has a long history with the Today Show having joined the Weekend Today team back in 2014. In January 2019, she became co-host on the third hour of Today.
But this was plagued with illness and heartbreak. She was forced to take medical leave for six weeks in 2020 to undergo surgery to remove lesions from her vocal cord, which left her unable to speak for two weeks.
Then in late 2024, she took another leave of absence from the Today show, this time to be by her husband Uche Ojeh’s side after he was diagnosed with aggressive glioblastoma, a brain cancer.
On May 23, 2025, the morning show announced that he had died. He was 45.
Jones was left to raise their three children son Kayin, 16, and 14-year-old twins Clara and Uche as a single mother.
After years of climbing the ladder, often in the face of overwhelming hardship, it is perhaps no surprise that Jones now wants her moment.
Jones has been part of the Today family since 2014 (pictured July 2026)
A source said: ‘Jenna is more snappy and will tell it like it is. She’s more outspoken’
‘The truth is Sheinelle really wants to shine,’ said our insider. ‘She’s worked so hard to get to where she’s at now that she doesn’t want to let anyone down.
‘She’s been trying so hard to fill in Hoda’s shoes, without overstepping Jenna. But Jenna doesn’t want anyone to outshine her.’
Hager, who has been part of the Today Show since 2009 and co-host of the fourth hour since 2019 reportedly ‘likes to take on the role of the lead on the show.’
‘That’s why there’s some headbutting,’ the source added. ‘Jenna also loves to talk and assert herself into every conversation, even if that means talking over Sheinelle.
‘Sheinelle knows her place. She’s super respectful and while she might get mad, she’ll never make it known. Jenna is more snappy and will tell it like it is. She’s more outspoken.’
Viewers picked up on tensions between the co-hosts back in April, when Hager appeared to snap at Jones over a mistake she made while interviewing Victoria Beckham.
Jones said to Beckham of her years in the Spice Girls: ‘When I’m sitting here thinking about it, you really put it into perspective when you talk about Spice Girls for 40 and then the longevity of your fashion career…’
Hager quickly corrected her by saying, ‘for four, yeah,’ instead of 40 years.
Jones acknowledged the mistake, saying, ‘Right,’ but then continued on her question.
Then, the following day, when discussing Alice Hoffman’s novel Here on Earth and the film Practical Magic, stories about ‘about two sisters,’ the co-hosts seemingly clashed when discussing their siblings.
Hager said she could relate to the main characters in the film since ‘it’s a lot about sister empowerment’ adding: ‘I have a sister. So Barbara and I…’
Meanwhile, Jones, who appeared to cut her off, chimed in: ‘I’ve got like four of them.’
Referring to her twin sister Barbara Pierce Bush, Hager then snapped: ‘Well, I know but I just have one.’
A presenting shake-up could be on the horizon, our insider claimed, explaining: ‘While it doesn’t hurt to have some more attention surrounding the show, Today really strives to be family friendly.
‘If on set tension gets worse or happens more regularly, there might be some big changes happening for next season,’ they warned. ‘The head honchos are certainly paying attention to what’s being said online.
‘Viewership, at the end of the day, is the most important thing. If someone isn’t resonating with the audience, that’s a big problem.’
A decision for the next season is expected to be made ‘before the end of the year.’
‘Sheinelle has lost a lot in her life already,’ the insider said. ‘She would not want to give up the one thing she worked so hard for. No matter what Jenna does or says, she will put drama aside to 100 percent focus on work.’
Mike Jerrick, Jones’s former Fox29 Good Day Philadelphia coworker previously told the the Daily Mail that his pal ‘never heard her talk s**t about anybody else’ no matter how ‘frustrated’ they got on set.
‘She’s just the most genuine person,’ he said. ‘She’s a unique on-air talent. There’s nothing fake there… She’s just incredibly kind and funny.’
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Jones, Hager and NBC for comment.
