Sheinelle Jones Reveals Exciting Reason for Upcoming ‘Today’ Absence

Sheinelle Jones is staying booked and busy both on and off NBC‘s Today.

Jones began her week by reporting live from Los Angeles, where she covered the 2026 Emmys for the morning show. Jones shared her red carpet highlights with Jenna Bush Hager and guest host Benny Blanco on the Tuesday, September 15, episode of Today With Jenna & Sheinelle.

“I don’t know if you could tell, but we had a lot of fun,” Jones told the duo. Referring to Blanco’s wife, Selena Gomez, she added, “By the way, Benny, your wife’s dress was one of my favorites.”

While Bush Hager was happy to have Blanco as her co-host for the day, she was eager for Jones to head back to New York City. “First of all, Sheinelle, you looked beautiful. It looked like you had a blast. You did an incredible job,” she gushed before asking, “Can you go to the airport right now and fly on home?”

Jones revealed that she will be spending a bit more time in Los Angeles before returning to Studio 1A. “​​I am actually going to do — I do a Saturday morning show called Wild Child. We are about to go tape 14 episodes,” she shared. In reaction, Bush Hager jokingly exclaimed, “No, thank you!”

Jones has hosted NBC’s Wild Child since its premiere back in 2021. The series documents the sweet bonds between animal parents and their children and the struggles they face while surviving in the wild.

 

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Jones did not share when she will be back on Today, nor did she reveal when Wild Child will return with new episodes on NBC. In addition to Blanco filling in for Jones on Tuesday, Savannah Guthrie joined Bush Hager at the hosts’ desk on the Monday, September 14, episode of Jenna & Sheinelle.

Bush Hager didn’t share who else may fill in for Jones on the show this week. Per Jenna & Sheinelle‘s official Instagram page, this week’s remaining lineup of celebrity guests includes Ethan Hawke, Kenny Chesney, Anika Noni Rose, Jane Krakowski, Lili Reinhart, and Tom Bateman.

Jones’ Emmys red carpet segment saw her chat with stars such as Jackie Tohn, Noah Kahan, Adam Brody, Noah Wyle, Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Allison Janney, Megan Stalter, Marcello Hernández, Cheryl Ladd, Alan Cumming, Steve Carell, Harrison Ford, Jordan E. Cooper, Patricia Williams, LL Cool J, Sally Field, Dakota and Elle Fanning, Sepideh Moafi, Paul Anthony Kelly, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Jones took fans behind the scenes of her 2026 Emmys night via Instagram. “I can’t tell you the emotional gymnastics I go through sometimes before big interviews, it’s like the ‘high school’ version of me who wants that ‘A’ grade kicks in … and I do a ton of homework…
but once it’s ‘go time’ – I let go and have A BALL (It helps to have this dream team),” she wrote alongside footage from Monday. “Last night was no exception, we all loved every second on the blue carpet. Lots of laughs … for sure! Super fun.”

Today With Jenna & Sheinelle, Weekdays, 10 am, NBC

Wild Child, New Episodes, TBA, NBC