After long-time TODAY Show legend Hoda Kotb stepped away from the show in January of 2025, her former co-host Jenna Bush Hager continued on with the show, which was renamed Jenna & Friends. The idea was that over the course of the year, Hager would have a variety of different guests on to co-host with her, while producers decided what dynamic seemed to work the best.
Television personality Justin Sylvester was a frequent co-host on the show, sharing many laughs alongside Hager. Despite being a popular fan choice as a permanent co-host for the show, he did not end up getting chosen for the gig.
Now, Sylvester is opening up about when he realized that he was most likely not going to be chosen as the permanent co-host. During a conversation with fellow TV personality Jeff Lewis, he shared about how this decision made him feel.
“I was disappointed that it was not you that was announced. They said that ‘this person is exactly what this show is about, Sheinelle.' So I guess you were not…what the show was about. Um, it’s a little harsh, I feel like they threw you away like E! did,” Lewis said, drawing a laugh from Sylvester.
“Um, honestly, I knew that I was probably not getting that job in September. I came to a very quick realization that I’m going to use this opportunity to find another job, and I told you that in August...September. I also had a psychic tell me my intuition was right about that, so I had given up the job long before,” Sylvester replied.
Producers would instead choose TODAY Show alum Sheinelle Jones for the role, with the announcement being made on December 9. Jones will start as the permanent co-host in 2026.
