Why Savannah Guthrie Is Stepping Away From Today for a Few Weeks

Savannah Guthrie Explains 4-Day Absence From Today

Savannah Guthrie has a five-letter word for Today fans: break.

The news anchor announced July 16 that she is taking a temporary leave of absence to shoot NBC’s upcoming Wordle-inspired game show, which she is set to host.

“I’m headed over to shoot Wordle over the next few weeks,” Guthrie explained during the July 16 broadcast of Today. “We’re going to shoot the whole season, and we’re super excited. Cannot wait for everyone to see it.”

Guthrie’s role in the network adaptation of the popular five-letter word puzzle from The New York Times game was previously announced in May with Jimmy Fallon set to produce. And while announcing her role in the upcoming series, which will hit NBC in 2027, she emphasized her gratitude to the series for putting production on pause amid the ongoing search for her mother Nancy Guthrie.

“When everything happened with me and my family,” Guthrie explained during a May 11 broadcast of Today, “they just stopped everything and said, ‘We’ll wait for you.’ And Hollywood is like a really tough business, and I didn’t expect that. And I just want to say thank you, it means so much to me.”

Meanwhile, all eyes have been on Guthrie as the search for her 84-year-old mother—who was kidnapped from her home in the early hours of Feb. 1—continues into its sixth month. When the Today show anchor was absent from the morning show for four days earlier in July, viewers speculated about whether it was related to her mom’s disappearance.

However, the journalist—who shares two kids with husband Michael Feldman—confirmed it was simply pre-planned time off, which she spent watching FIFA World Cup games with her family.

“I watched quite a few of them,” Guthrie shared during the July 14 episode, while Guthrie’s co-anchor Craig Melvin added, “So glad that Savannah’s back in Studio 1A.”

Rob Kim/Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds

But while Guthrie returned to her spot at the Today desk in April, she has maintained that she and her family are “in agony” off camera.

“We cannot be at peace,” Guthrie said during a June 23 episode of Today. “No matter how much I try to come out here every day and smile and find that joy, I will. I promise I will. This is the moment to tell you that we need your help. We’re begging for your help…We love our mom and we’ll never stop looking for her, ever.”

For a deeper look into the investigation of Guthrie’s mom, keep reading…

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