Today's Sheinelle Jones Praises Al Roker's Work Ethic at 70: 'That Man Works His Hiney Off' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Sheinelle Jones and Al Roker on TODAY on Thursday, January 26, 2023.Photo:Nathan Congleton/NBC via GettyAl Roker’s work ethic is like no other!Amid Roker’smilestone 70th birthday festivitiesduring the Aug. 20 episode ofToday, his colleagueSheinelle Jonesspoke highly of the famed weatherman while in conversation with PEOPLE.“I would say most of the anchors here on theTodayshow, they have a good time andthey’re fun and they’re smilingbecause they’ve done the work. You know what I mean?” Jones, 46, shared before speaking about Roker’s own efforts. “He knows the forecast in and out. He knows the weather patterns. He also knows good television. He also has prepped for his interviews. So when he sits down, he’s able to have a good time and he’s able to be warm because he’s prepared.“Jones continued, “So if anyone thinks that he just gets up there and just kind of phones it in, they couldn’t be further from the truth. That man works his hiney off.“But Roker’s efforts extend past Studio 1A, Jones explained.“It’s not just here. You see him in commercials, you see him in movies, you see him in cartoons,” she said. “I don’t know when he sleeps."(L-R) Sheinelle Jones, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker on TODAY on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.Nathan Congleton/NBC via GettySo, what has Jones learned from observing Roker over the years?“I think what I have learned from Al is that he never loses sight of where he started,” she said. “Whenhe got the key to the city [on his 70th birthday], he didn’t just take the key and say, ‘Oh, hey, thank you so much,’ to the mayor of New York City. He reminded us that his father drove a city bus in New York City."(L-R) Al Roker and Sheinelle Jones visit the SiriusXM Studios on October 29, 2019 in New York City.Noam Galai/Getty"I think that is part of what makes him [and] his journey so special because he recognizes how far he’s been able to make it and not on his own,” she continued of herOff The Railsco-host. “He always thanks the team. Today, we gave him a special behind-the-scenes toast, and the first people he thanked were the crew. So, it’s one of those things where that is why he has the room, right?“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.TheWild Childhost added, “He can be in the fanciest of rooms, in the White House, literally, and he can also be with the guys driving buses in the city. You know what I mean? Al’s just a guy’s guy and he doesn’t suffer fools. And so, I think if I’ve learned anything from him, I think you can enjoy the ride, but you have to do the work. And, you have to be a good person.”

(L-R) Sheinelle Jones and Al Roker on TODAY on Thursday, January 26, 2023.Photo:Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Al Roker’s work ethic is like no other!Amid Roker’smilestone 70th birthday festivitiesduring the Aug. 20 episode ofToday, his colleagueSheinelle Jonesspoke highly of the famed weatherman while in conversation with PEOPLE.“I would say most of the anchors here on theTodayshow, they have a good time andthey’re fun and they’re smilingbecause they’ve done the work. You know what I mean?” Jones, 46, shared before speaking about Roker’s own efforts. “He knows the forecast in and out. He knows the weather patterns. He also knows good television. He also has prepped for his interviews. So when he sits down, he’s able to have a good time and he’s able to be warm because he’s prepared.“Jones continued, “So if anyone thinks that he just gets up there and just kind of phones it in, they couldn’t be further from the truth. That man works his hiney off.“But Roker’s efforts extend past Studio 1A, Jones explained.“It’s not just here. You see him in commercials, you see him in movies, you see him in cartoons,” she said. “I don’t know when he sleeps."(L-R) Sheinelle Jones, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker on TODAY on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.Nathan Congleton/NBC via GettySo, what has Jones learned from observing Roker over the years?“I think what I have learned from Al is that he never loses sight of where he started,” she said. “Whenhe got the key to the city [on his 70th birthday], he didn’t just take the key and say, ‘Oh, hey, thank you so much,’ to the mayor of New York City. He reminded us that his father drove a city bus in New York City."(L-R) Al Roker and Sheinelle Jones visit the SiriusXM Studios on October 29, 2019 in New York City.Noam Galai/Getty"I think that is part of what makes him [and] his journey so special because he recognizes how far he’s been able to make it and not on his own,” she continued of herOff The Railsco-host. “He always thanks the team. Today, we gave him a special behind-the-scenes toast, and the first people he thanked were the crew. So, it’s one of those things where that is why he has the room, right?“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.TheWild Childhost added, “He can be in the fanciest of rooms, in the White House, literally, and he can also be with the guys driving buses in the city. You know what I mean? Al’s just a guy’s guy and he doesn’t suffer fools. And so, I think if I’ve learned anything from him, I think you can enjoy the ride, but you have to do the work. And, you have to be a good person.”

Al Roker’s work ethic is like no other!

Amid Roker’smilestone 70th birthday festivitiesduring the Aug. 20 episode ofToday, his colleagueSheinelle Jonesspoke highly of the famed weatherman while in conversation with PEOPLE.

“I would say most of the anchors here on theTodayshow, they have a good time andthey’re fun and they’re smilingbecause they’ve done the work. You know what I mean?” Jones, 46, shared before speaking about Roker’s own efforts. “He knows the forecast in and out. He knows the weather patterns. He also knows good television. He also has prepped for his interviews. So when he sits down, he’s able to have a good time and he’s able to be warm because he’s prepared.”

Jones continued, “So if anyone thinks that he just gets up there and just kind of phones it in, they couldn’t be further from the truth. That man works his hiney off.”

But Roker’s efforts extend past Studio 1A, Jones explained.

“It’s not just here. You see him in commercials, you see him in movies, you see him in cartoons,” she said. “I don’t know when he sleeps.”

(L-R) Sheinelle Jones, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker on TODAY on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

So, what has Jones learned from observing Roker over the years?

“I think what I have learned from Al is that he never loses sight of where he started,” she said. “Whenhe got the key to the city [on his 70th birthday], he didn’t just take the key and say, ‘Oh, hey, thank you so much,’ to the mayor of New York City. He reminded us that his father drove a city bus in New York City.”

(L-R) Al Roker and Sheinelle Jones visit the SiriusXM Studios on October 29, 2019 in New York City.Noam Galai/Getty

Noam Galai/Getty

“I think that is part of what makes him [and] his journey so special because he recognizes how far he’s been able to make it and not on his own,” she continued of herOff The Railsco-host. “He always thanks the team. Today, we gave him a special behind-the-scenes toast, and the first people he thanked were the crew. So, it’s one of those things where that is why he has the room, right?”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

TheWild Childhost added, “He can be in the fanciest of rooms, in the White House, literally, and he can also be with the guys driving buses in the city. You know what I mean? Al’s just a guy’s guy and he doesn’t suffer fools. And so, I think if I’ve learned anything from him, I think you can enjoy the ride, but you have to do the work. And, you have to be a good person.”

source: people.com