Today anchor Savannah Guthrie returned to her hosting duties on Thursday, May 7, appearing in good spirits after briefly stepping away from the programme during Wednesday’s broadcast, a move that had prompted concern among viewers.
Guthrie co-anchored the show alongside Willie Geist, opening Thursday’s episode by discussing the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series, Elle. She expressed enthusiasm for the project, referencing her long-standing admiration for the original film.
“I know, I love Legally Blonde. I connect with this character and now we get to see her in high school,” Guthrie said, noting that she had previously dressed as Elle Woods for a Halloween edition of the programme.
The upbeat return followed an unusual moment during Wednesday’s episode, when Guthrie, 54, left the studio approximately 30 minutes before the show concluded.
At around 8:30 a.m. local time, co-anchor Craig Melvin informed viewers from the Today Show Plaza that Guthrie had stepped away early.
“Savannah had to leave a little early. She will be right back here tomorrow though,” Melvin said, as fellow hosts Jenna Bush Hager, Sheinelle Jones, Carson Daly and Dylan Dreyer appeared on set.
The moment drew additional attention when a former high school teacher of Guthrie’s appeared on the plaza holding a poster featuring throwback images of the anchor. Bush Hager highlighted the sign during the segment, prompting a brief exchange about Guthrie’s school days, with the teacher describing her as a “great student.”
No explanation was provided on air for Guthrie’s early exit.
Her brief absence came just over a month after she returned to the anchor desk following an extended leave connected to a family crisis involving her mother, Nancy Guthrie. According to earlier reports, her 84-year-old mother was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of February 1. Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The case has also drawn renewed attention after comments from FBI Director Kash Patel, who criticised the handling of the early stages of the investigation by local authorities. Speaking on a media programme, Patel said the initial period was crucial.
“The first 48 hours of anyone’s disappearance are the most critical,” he said. “For four days, we were kept out of the investigation.”
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