Savannah Guthrie Reflects on ‘Controversy’ Surrounding Ann Curry’s ‘Today’ Exit: ‘Terrified’

Savannah Guthrie’s life changed forever when she got the call that she would be coanchoring on Today in 2012. But the NBC personality is well aware that there was “controversy” surrounding the move after Ann Curry was ousted from the talk show.

“I came at a time of a lot of controversy for the show, and it wasn’t, I don’t think, a happy occasion, really — for anyone, including me,” Savannah, 53, told Parade in a joint interview with Craig Melvin that was published on Friday, January 17. “I was as terrified as I could possibly be because the bosses at the time had made a decision, and I quite literally was the last to know, and I was so afraid, and I was pretty sure that I wouldn’t last.”

“All my dreams had already come true,” she said of landing the early morning coanchor position on Today after working on the show’s third hour. “It didn’t need to get any better than that.”

Savannah slid into Ann’s anchor seat in 2012, joining Matt Lauer at the news desk. According to Today.com, the anchor shakeup was “aimed at curbing a recent decline in ratings.”

“In just a few short years Savannah, has become a standout member of the news division as well as the ultimate team player,” former NBC News President Steve Capus said in a statement at the time. “She’s got an undeniable range, and she’s earned the trust of the news community, her colleagues and our viewers alike. I couldn’t be happier for Savannah and the entire Today team.”

Savannah admitted that she wasn’t sure how she would fare being thrust into the position so abruptly and how long she would last on the network.

“When I was offered the job, I was in tears,” the Mostly What God Does author told Parade. “And it wasn’t because I didn’t dream of this job like everyone else does. It was because I was sure that it wouldn’t last and that I’d be thrown by the wayside within a few weeks or months … I’m so happy that I survived and I’m still here.”

Eight years after Savannah’s Today promotion, Ann, 68, spoke out about her abrupt exit from the show.

“I still don’t really understand,” she admitted during an interview with Elle in September 2020. “I know I did nothing wrong. I know I was good at my job.”

“They say where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” the journalist added. “You can read the tea leaves. But you know, I’m a fact-based reporter, so it’s hard for me to go out there, with something so close to the vest. I don’t know. I don’t know.”

After she was ousted from Today, Ann remained on NBC until 2015.

“I can say today I’m stronger now,” the news reporter told People in January 2018. “I’m smarter. I’m happier, as happy as I’ve ever been. And my compassion has only grown. When you go through the pain and learn the lessons, you will be changed for the better.”

Savannah still remains a fixture on Today, with Craig, 45, joining her at the news desk as her coanchor on January 13 after longtime cohost Hoda Kotb left the show.

“We’re so sad to see [Hoda] go … But we’re also overjoyed because Craig is stepping in to fill her shoes, and I can’t think of anyone more perfect for that role,” she said.