Skip to content 
Savannah Guthrie and Willie Geist on the ‘Today’ show on Thursday, May 7. Credit :
NBC
NEED TO KNOW
Savannah Guthrie returned to the Today show after leaving abruptly during Wednesday’s broadcast with no explanation given
Savannah recently returned to work following her mother Nancy’s February abduction, which remains unsolved with no suspects identified
She previously shared her emotional decision to return to Today, calling it a source of joy and purpose amid her family’s ordeal
Savannah Guthrie was back in the Today show anchor chair on Thursday, May 7.
She was joined by Willie Geist at the desk, appearing to be in good spirits as she discussed the Legally Blonde prequel series, Elle, at the top of the show.
“I know, I love Legally Blonde. I connect with this character and now we get to see her in high school,” Guthrie gushed, noting that she dressed as Reese Witherspoon’s character Elle Woods for the Today show’s Halloween special one year.
Viewers of the NBC morning show grew concerned during Wednesday’s episode when Guthrie, 54, made an abrupt exit from the show, 30 minutes before it was set to end.
At 8:30 a.m. local time, Guthrie’s co-anchor Craig Melvin was out on the Today Show Plaza along with Jenna Bush Hager, Sheinelle Jones, Carson Daly and Dylan Dreyer, when he announced, “Savannah had to leave a little early. She will be right back here tomorrow though.”
The moment was accentuated by one of Guthrie’s former high school teachers, who had shown up on the Plaza with a sign featuring the news anchor’s throwback photos.
“Speaking of, this was Savannah’s teacher,” Bush Hager declared, highlighting the personalized poster. “Was Savannah a great student?”
“Oh yeah, great student,” the teacher replied.
A group of people outdoors one holding a sign addressed to Savannah Guthrie as part of a show
Savannah Guthrie’s former teacher celebrated her on the ‘Today’ Show Plaza on May 6, 2026.
NBC
No explanation was given for Guthrie’s exit. PEOPLE has reached out to the Today show for comment.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Our new app is here! Free, fun and full of exclusives. Scan to download now!
It has been just over a month since Savannah returned to her spot on the anchor desk after taking an extended leave of absence amid the abduction of her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie.
Nancy was taken from her Tucson, Ariz., home in the early morning hours of Feb. 1. In the months since her kidnapping, there have been no official suspects identified.
Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on the ‘Today’ set in 2023.
Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on the ‘Today’ set in 2023.