Sheinelle Jones is back at the "Today" show Friday in an emotional return following her husband's death.

The cohost of the NBC morning franchise's third-hour program sat down Sept. 5 with anchor Savannah Guthrie to discuss her husband Uche Ojeh, who died in May from an aggressive form of brain cancer.

"It's a beautiful nightmare," Jones said of the tragedy, also telling her friend that "my heart is shattered in a million pieces" and the loss of Ojeh "sucks." Jones also appeared live in studio after the interview aired to discuss her loss.

"The life that I've known since I was 19 is no more," Jones told Guthrie.

During the interview, Jones recalled how she and Ojeh would sit together as students at Northwestern University as they looked at a clock tower with a beautiful view. Thirty years later, she said they looked at a beautiful view of the New York City skyline from his hospital room.

"I remember staring out the window, and I'm like, 'Oh, my God, it’s like this crazy, full-circle moment,'" Jones said. "Here we are again, not talking, and it feels like a beautiful nightmare."

Jones continued: "It felt scary. It felt divine. It felt bigger than us. But at the end of the day, when we shut the door and it was just us, that was always when we felt like we were at our best. And my 19-year-old self did it, and then my 47-year-old self was doing it again."

She added: "We would just hold hands, and the nurses would come in, and they would call us the lovebirds. And we would just look at each other, say 'I love you,' and hold hands. But that's what I mean by beautiful nightmare.

"I found beauty in the nightmare," Jones explained. "And trust me, it is a nightmare to watch a 45-year-old do two triathlons and live and breathe off of soccer and his kids … to take a guy like that and watch him have to deal with this fight was a nightmare."

The "Today" show revealed Sept. 2 that Jones would be back on the air later in the week. Craig Melvin said the staff was "so excited" to announce her return, while Guthrie noted that "she and her family have been through so much."

"We cannot wait to welcome Sheinelle home, right where she belongs," Guthrie said, adding, "She's coming back, and she's ready."

Why did Sheinelle Jones leave the 'Today' show?

In January, Jones shared in a statement for "Today" viewers, explaining that she was "taking time to deal with a family health matter," adding that "it's not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my 'Today' Show family, but to also have all of you. Your kindness means so much to me." She was last seen on-air in December.

Jones cohosts "3rd Hour of Today" alongside weatherman Al Roker, meteorologist Dylan Dreyer and Guthrie's main hour coanchor Melvin.

What kind of cancer did Sheinelle Jones' husband have?

On May 23, Guthrie shared with "Today" viewers that Jones' had "passed away after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma."

Guthrie added: "There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. Uche was an incredible person. We all loved him. And so we want to take a moment to tell you more about the remarkable man who was Sheinelle's perfect partner in life."

In a prerecorded video segment, Guthrie also said Ojeh was Jones' "perfect match" and a "man whose joyful spirit and quiet strength complemented Sheinelle in every way."

Jones and Ojeh married in 2007 and were parents to three kids: eldest son Kayin and fraternal twins Uche and Clara. At the time, Jones shared a clip from the segment on Instagram and wrote, "Thank you, for all of your love and support."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sheinelle Jones opens up about husband Uche Ojeh's death in emotional return to 'Today' show

Reporting by Jay Stahl and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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