Medinsight
Mar 18, 2026

Savannah Guthrie’s ‘Today’ return: business as usual on air, emotional behind-the-scenes… 😢💔

The explicit instructions Savannah Guthrie’s ‘Today’ co-hosts were given ahead of her return revealed

While Savannah Guthrie’s return to “Today” after more than two months was very emotional behind the scenes, we’re told that the on-air marching orders were to be “business as usual,” sources tell Page Six.

Sources say that ahead of the broadcast, NBC staffers appearing on the show were explicitly instructed not to address the disappearance of Guthrie’s mother, Nancy — who was abducted from her Arizona home in February — or even formally welcome the anchor back.

“It was supposed to be business as usual, [producers] said to act totally normal,” says a source. “‘Move forward’ is the vibe. It’s been a hard year and a draining time.”

Jenna Bush Hager, Carson Daly, and Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie

Savannah Guthrie returned to the “Today” show this morning after a more than two month absence.AP

Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin

Craig Melvin welcomed her back at the top of the show.Jose Perez/INSTARimages

We hear that the move is a practical one: correspondents mentioning Guthrie’s situation would interrupt the flow and would require her to respond, they feel.

Even so, Guthrie was welcomed back on air by her co-anchors Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Jenna Bush, Sheinelle Jones and Carson Daly over the course of the show.

“It is good to be home,” Guthrie said at the beginning of the show. “Ready or not, let’s do the news.”

 Savannah Guthrie

A source tells us there were lots of hugs behind the scenes.GC Images

Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie

She was spotted getting emotional while hugging Jenna Bush Hager.Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post

Other posts