SHEINELLE Jones has replaced Craig Melvin as Today anchor after it was revealed she was ‘in the running’ to replace Hoda Kotb.

Last week it was revealed that Hoda, 60, has stepped down from her role as co-anchor on the NBC morning show.

Sheinelle Jones sat in for Craig Melvin on Today
3

Sheinelle Jones sat in for Craig Melvin on TodayCredit: NBC

Hoda revealed she was leaving last week
3

Hoda revealed she was leaving last weekCredit: Getty

She stepped in for Craig
3

She stepped in for CraigCredit: Getty
Hoda will be leaving Today at the end of the year – and many are wondering who will replace her.

Sheinelle – who is usually a correspondent – stepped in as co-anchor just for the day, for Craig Melvin.

It comes after The Sun U.S exclusively reported that Sheinelle is in the running to replace main anchor Hoda, and join Craig and Savannah Guthrie on our screens.

“Now that she’s on her way out, there is a power vacuum already,” the insider told us.

“She put out the email that she was quitting before she went on air and before the show even ended four people were waiting outside the EP’s door to try and get the job.”

The insider added that Sheinelle “is their first choice” as NBC execs would like a person of color for the spot.

She has been part of the show since 2014.

HODA’S EXIT

Last month The Sun U.S reported that execs are ‘begging’ Hoda to stay and ‘haven’t given up’ on keeping her.

Sheryl Underwood sits alone as co-hosts chat without her on 'tense' Talk set

TALK ABOUT ICY

Sheryl Underwood sits alone as co-hosts chat without her on ‘tense’ Talk set

A source told us that NBC higher-ups still think that they may be able to stop her from leaving.

“There are negotiations in the works with pleas for her to do one day a week like Barbara Walters once did on The View,” the source said.

Today execs are ‘begging’ Hoda Kotb to stay on show and ‘haven’t given up’ on keeping her despite exit announcement
“That’s why she’s been very vague about when she’s leaving and what she’s doing next. They’re still figuring it out.

“She wants to do prime-time specials like Diane Sawyer does for ABC.

“This isn’t the last we’ve seen of Hoda.”

FINDING LOVE

Meanwhile it has also been reported that Hoda will focus on love when she leaves Today.

The source said that Hoda, who broke off her engagement to her longtime fiance Joel Schiffman in 2022 after eight years of dating, wants another chance at love.

“She wants a boyfriend, she wants to be able to date, she wants to have that in her life,” the insider revealed.

She was last seen with a mystery man in March this year.

REAL REASON

The real reason that Hoda decided to leave is because she wants to focus on her family.

The TV star is mum to Hope, five, and Hayley, seven.

An insider explained: “You want to be there for your kids, and she’s just completely wiped by the time it gets around to after school.

“She loves these girls so much, and then when Hope was sick and hospitalized, everything changed for her with her views on work.”

SHOCK ANNOUNCEMENT

Hoda revealed the news on September 26.

She joined the show in 2018 after replacing Matt Lauer.

Hoda said in her statement: “So I was doing the math, and I realized I have spent 26 years at NBC – be cool, be cool.

“I just turned 60, and it was such a monumental moment for me when I turned 60 years old…

“What does that decade mean?…And I realize it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new.”