Why Did Savannah Guthrie Leave ‘Today’ Show Mid-Broadcast? Reason Revealed After Hoda Kotb’s Absence

Today host Savannah Guthrie abruptly left the show mid-broadcast on February 28 when she disappeared shortly after 7:30 a.m. The anchor tested positive for COVID-19, although viewers were left wondering where Savannah went for nearly 90 minutes. Scroll below for details on her return to the show. 

Why Did Savannah Guthrie Disappear on ‘Today’?

Fill-in host Sheinelle Jones told the audience about Savannah’s positive test at the end of the 8:00 a.m. hour after she began feeling ill. “By the way, it has been an interesting morning for us. As we said, Savannah left early, she wasn’t feeling great, so she took a COVID test,” Sheinelle told viewers.

“It came back positive. So, as soon as we found out, she rushed home to rest up. So, Savannah, we love you, wishing you a speedy recovery,” she added.

The Australia native’s absence came as her coanchor, Hoda Kotb, had been off NBC’s Today for more than a week without explanation. Hoda, 58, was not on the air on February 27 and was M.I.A. the following day when Savannah tested positive for COVID-19. 

Despite her absence from the show, Hoda posted inspirational messages via her Instagram account. On February 27, she shared a photo of a placard that read “Choose hope.” The day prior, she shared a quote that read, “Sometimes miracles are just people with good hearts.”

Hoda’s online presence without explaining her absence from Today had her followers worried. “Your vague posts are giving me major anxiety but caring vibes. I know we will know what’s going on with time. But gosh dang it woman – please let us know what’s going on!” one fan wrote, while another added, “OK. Seriously … what is going on with you? I know you have a right to privacy, but your truest fans have noticed your absence and these posts … worried about you.”

Several other followers speculated Hoda might have adopted another child. “Maybe she’s adding to her family? She has mentioned it before,” one person comments. The longtime newswoman first became a mom in 2017 when she adopted daughter Haley Joy. Hoda expanded her family with the 2019 adoption of daughter Hope Catherine.

When Did Savannah Guthrie Return to ‘Today’?

On Monday, March 6, both Savannah and Hoda returned to Today and supported each other during an emotional segment. 

“My youngest, Hope, was in the ICU and then in the hospital for a little over a week,” Hoda told the audience during the episode. “I’m so grateful she’s home, she is back home. I was waiting for that day to come, and we are watching her closely.”

The Emmy winner expressed gratitude to her costars, including Savannah, who supported her during the difficult time. 

​​”You know what I realized too, Savannah? It’s like, when your child is ill, the amount of gratitude you can have for people who helped you out,” Hoda continued. “So, I’m grateful for the doctors at Weill Cornell who were amazing and the nurses. And I’m grateful for my family and I’m grateful for friends like you who were there every single day. So, I want to say thank you for that. I love you.”