Sheinelle Jones<\/a>\u00a0revealed on Wednesday, Jan. 15 that she is taking an extended break from the\u00a0Today<\/em>\u00a0show to deal with a family health matter. And while she did not disclose the nature of the issue, a source close to Jones tells PEOPLE the situation is “serious.”<\/p>\n According to the insider, the health matter does not concern Jones herself or the three children she shares with husband, Uche Ojeh: 14-year-old Kayin and 12-year-old twins, Clara and Uche.<\/p>\n “Sheinelle appreciates the support she\u2019s received from fans and viewers in her absence,” the source says. “She\u2019s especially grateful for her tight-knit\u00a0Today<\/em>\u00a0show family and co-hosts, for all their love during a sensitive time.”<\/p>\n Sheinelle Jones and her kids (Clara, Kayin and Uche) on ‘3rd Hour of Today’ in April 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n Nathan Congleton\/NBC via Getty<\/p>\n Jones, 46, first joined\u00a0Today\u00a0<\/em>in 2014 and has been a constant across all of\u00a0Today<\/em>‘s programming. In addition to co-hosting\u00a03rd Hour of Today\u00a0<\/em>alongside\u00a0Al Roker<\/a>,\u00a0Craig Melvin<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Dylan Dreyer<\/a>, Jones also regularly fills in as co-anchor for\u00a0Today,\u00a0<\/em>and guest co-hosts\u00a0Today with Hoda & Jenna\u00a0<\/em>(now dubbed\u00a0Today with Jenna & Friends<\/em>).<\/p>\n The mother of three has been absent from the program since Dec. 18, sparking questions from viewers.<\/p>\n In a post on her Instagram on Wednesday, Jones thanked the fans for their concern. “I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I\u2019ve been absent from the show. I want to share with you that I\u2019m taking time to deal with a family health matter,” she wrote.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s not lost on me how lucky I am to have not on the support of my\u00a0Today<\/em>\u00a0show family, but to also have all of you,” she added. “Your kindness means so much to me. I\u2019ll see you soon”<\/p>\n The post was signed, “Love, Sheinelle.”<\/p>\n Today\u00a0<\/em>viewers know Jones regularly shares stories about her family on the program and on social media.<\/p>\n This spring, she’ll release her first book\u00a0Through Mom\u2019s Eyes<\/em><\/a>, which is inspired by the recurring\u00a0Today<\/em>\u00a0segment she leads interviewing celebrities\u2019 mothers about raising successful kids.<\/p>\n Out April 15, the book will feature Jones’ own journey through modern parenting as well as valuable lessons about life, love, and parenthood from the moms of\u00a0Lady Gaga<\/a>,\u00a0Kevin Durant<\/a>,\u00a0Matthew McConaughey<\/a>,\u00a0Venus Williams<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Serena Williams<\/a>,\u00a0Lin-Manuel Miranda<\/a>,\u00a0Steph Curry<\/a>,\u00a0Padma Lakshmi<\/a>,\u00a0Tyra Banks<\/a>,\u00a0Donnie Wahlberg<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Mark Wahlberg<\/a>,\u00a0Rob \u201cGronk\u201d Gronkowski<\/a>,\u00a0Jessica Simpson<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Ashlee Simpson<\/a>,\u00a0Shaquille O\u2019Neal<\/a>,\u00a0Brandon Maxwell<\/a>, the\u00a0Jonas Brothers<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Thomas Rhett<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"einelle](\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/sbdIvXQI6c9etanzFkNjQzm4Pfs=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(739x292:741x294):format(webp)\/sheinelle-jones-clara-kayin-uche-today-show-011525-9f1a0027aaf8423fbf146c3b6782171b.jpg\")
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