Savannah Guthrie’s sudden exit from the middle of a live Today show broadcast quickly got viewers talking online. The longtime NBC anchor quietly stepped away during the May 6 episode, leaving co-host Craig Melvin to briefly explain her absence on-air. The unexpected moment also comes as Savannah continues dealing with a painful family crisis involving her missing mother.
Savannah Guthrie leaves Today mid-show
About 90 minutes into the May 6 edition of Today, Savannah Guthrie disappeared from the anchor desk without explanation during the live broadcast. A short while later, Craig Melvin addressed viewers directly and said, “Savannah had to leave a little early. She’ll be right back tomorrow, though.” NBC did not immediately provide more details about why she stepped away mid-show (via E! Online).
Fans quickly noticed the sudden departure, especially since Savannah had only recently returned to Today after being away for nearly two months. During her break, she stayed close to family as investigators looked into the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, from her Arizona home earlier this year. Police said the 84-year-old was reported missing on February 1. Surveillance footage reportedly captured a masked person near the property before the camera was damaged.
Savannah previously opened up about the emotional toll the situation has taken on her and her siblings, Camron and Annie Guthrie. Speaking with former Today co-anchor Hoda Kotb in March, Guthrie admitted, “We are in agony. It is unbearable.” She also shared how the uncertainty keeps affecting her daily life, saying she wakes up at night imagining her mother’s fear.
Even with the ongoing investigation, Guthrie said she still believes her mother could return safely. “I still have hope, and I’m still me,” she explained during the emotional interview. She also pushed back against online rumors suggesting family involvement in the disappearance, calling the speculation deeply painful. Savannah described her mother as “our shining light” and “our matriarch.”
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory.
