Where's Savannah Guthrie? Today host absent from multiple shows
Savannah Guthrie has been absent from NBC's Today show since Wednesday, July 8, 2026, taking a brief scheduled summer break that sources say is unrelated to the ongoing investigation into her mother Nancy Guthrie's abduction. She is expected back at the anchor desk on Monday, July 13.
Viewers asking "Where's Savannah Guthrie?" noticed the co-anchor missing from Studio 1A for back-to-back broadcasts this week. Sheinelle Jones filled in alongside Craig Melvin on July 8, and Weekend Today anchor Laura Jarrett stepped in on July 9. Melvin did not elaborate on her absence during the live broadcast.
Key Takeaways
- Savannah Guthrie was absent from Today on July 8 and July 9, 2026, with fill-in anchors at the desk.
- A source told People her time off is a summer break and is not tied to Nancy Guthrie's abduction case.
- She is expected to return to Today on Monday, July 13.
- Her 84-year-old mother Nancy was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona, home on February 1; the FBI and Pima County Sheriff's Department continue investigating.
- Savannah returned to the show in April after an extended leave following her mother's disappearance.
Why Is Savannah Guthrie Missing From Today?
According to People, Savannah Guthrie has several days off from the morning program. The outlet reported that her absence has nothing to do with the case of her mother Nancy Guthrie's abduction. Page Six confirmed she is on a brief hiatus to spend time with her family while the probe into Nancy's disappearance continues.
Before stepping away, Savannah appeared on Today on Monday, July 6, and Tuesday, July 7. She also joined co-hosts for NBC's July 4 coverage from Governors Island in New York and recently attended a World Cup match with her husband, People reported.
Is Her Absence Connected to Nancy Guthrie's Case?
Sources explicitly pushed back on that theory. People reported that a source confirmed Savannah's scheduled break is unrelated to Nancy's abduction. Nancy, 84, was taken from her home near Tucson in the early morning hours of February 1. Months of investigation involving local authorities and the FBI have not produced any officially named suspects.
On June 23, Savannah tearfully addressed the ongoing investigation live on air. On July 1, she told KOLD 13 News it had been "five months of agony and unending trauma" for her family and that "there is not a moment that goes by that we aren't actively trying to find our mom." For broader coverage of cases like this, see our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries section.
When Will Savannah Guthrie Return to Today?
People reported that Savannah is expected back on Today on Monday, July 13. She first returned to the anchor desk in April, roughly two months after her mother went missing. Page Six previously reported that Today staffers were warned before her comeback not to speak about the investigation on air.
The FBI continues to assist the Pima County Sheriff's Department, which remains the lead agency. The bureau has received multiple ransom notes during the investigation; some were deemed fake extortion attempts, while others may be legitimate and remain under review, according to an FBI statement cited by reporting on the case. The investigation is being handled as a kidnapping-for-ransom matter.
What Happened to Nancy Guthrie?
Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her Arizona residence on February 1, 2026, and has not been located. Several ransom notes demanding millions of dollars in bitcoin have circulated in the months since. Savannah has often skipped episodes featuring new reports about the investigation since returning to Today in April, though she was present when Melvin reported on ransom-note details in June.
Savannah thanked the Tucson community for holding her mother in their hearts and commended the FBI and Pima County Sheriff's Department for their work on the case. As she takes her brief break from the morning show, the search for Nancy Guthrie remains active.