Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie Reunite on Today Show After Year-Long Hiatus
Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie are set to reunite on the Today show desk for the first time in over a year, marking a significant moment for the NBC morning programme. The announcement was made on-air by Guthrie on April 9, revealing that Kotb will fill in for co-anchor Craig Melvin starting April 13.
Emotional Announcement on Air
Guthrie, 54, shared the news during the broadcast, stating, "Speaking of tomorrow, Craig you are heading off on a very well-deserved vacation, you’ve been holding it down here for a long time. So you're going to have a spring break. And Monday we're gonna try a new host here. Her name is Hoda." Melvin responded with humour, joking that he would refuse to watch the show while on break, to which Guthrie quipped, "You're not supposed to watch on your vacation."
This reunion will be the first time Kotb and Guthrie serve as co-anchors since Kotb's last day in January 2025. The duo previously co-hosted the morning show for seven years until Kotb announced her departure in September 2024 to spend more time with her daughters after 26 years with NBC. Melvin, who hosted the show's third hour, replaced Kotb upon her exit.
Background of Guthrie's Personal Struggles
The reunion comes after a challenging period for Guthrie, who took nearly two months off following the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, from her Arizona home on February 1. The ongoing search has lasted over 10 weeks, with police believing Nancy, 84, was abducted from her home in the middle of the night. No suspects have been identified in the case.
In an emotional interview with Kotb that aired on March 26 and 27, Guthrie described the search as "agonizing" for her family. She said through tears, "Someone needs to do the right thing. We are in agony. It is unbearable. And to think of what she went through." This was the first interview Guthrie gave since her mother's disappearance.
Guthrie's Return to Work
Guthrie returned to anchor the show on April 6, more than two months after her mother's disappearance. She gave a subtle nod to her family by wearing yellow, which has become a symbol of hope throughout the search. During her first show back, she said it felt "good to be home" and told fans on Rockefeller Plaza, "You guys have been so beautiful. I’ve received so many letters, so much kindness to me and my whole family. We feel it. We feel your prayers, so thank you so much."
Reflecting on her return to work, Guthrie explained in the interview with Kotb, "It’s hard to imagine doing it because it’s such a place of joy and lightness and I can’t come back and try to be something that I’m not. But I can’t not come back because it’s my family. I think it’s part of my purpose right now. I want to smile. And when I do, it will be real. And my joy will be my protest. My joy will be my answer. And being there is joyful. And when it’s not, I’ll say so."
The reunion of Kotb and Guthrie on the Today show is expected to bring a sense of familiarity and warmth to viewers, as they navigate both professional changes and personal challenges. The show continues to be a staple of morning television, with this development highlighting the resilience and camaraderie among its hosts.
