Headlines and Whispers – What People Are Saying
Media chatter isn’t slowing down. After Hoda Kotb’s emotional farewell, fans turned their eyes to Guthrie, wondering if she might follow. Articles published between October and November 2024 featured headlines like “Savannah Next?” and “Today’s Future in Question?”. That sparked thousands of tweets and Reddit theories, some even claiming they’d “seen it in her eyes” during a segment.
Interestingly, Google Trends data shows a 280% spike in searches for “Savannah Guthrie leaving” between Oct 10 and Oct 20, 2024. Despite the noise, Guthrie keeps showing up daily at 30 Rock, smiling and unbothered. NBC’s reps call the rumors “completely speculative,” while Guthrie has yet to issue any dramatic announcement — and if anyone loves a dramatic monologue, it’s morning TV hosts.
Savannah’s Career Timeline (With Key Dates)
Her journey didn’t start on a TV couch. Before NBC, she was working as a lawyer, admitted to the bar in 2002 and even graduated with a top-notch JD from Georgetown. She switched from courtrooms to newsrooms in 2004, joining CourtTV, where she covered high-profile trials like Michael Jackson’s. That legal lens shaped her incisive interview style.
Between 2010 and 2012, she served as NBC’s White House correspondent, traveling over 100,000 miles in two years covering Obama’s presidency. Since anchoring Today, she’s interviewed presidents, hosted Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade 11 times, and celebrated her 12th Today anniversary in July 2024. With a résumé like that, retirement doesn’t seem urgent.
How Hoda Kotb’s Exit Changed the Game
Kotb leaving wasn’t just emotional — it was historic. When she stepped away in January 2025, she closed a nearly two-decade chapter, having started her Today journey in 2007. That same year, the iPhone launched. That’s how long she’d been a morning icon. Guthrie, visibly teary-eyed on air, said it felt like “the end of an era.”
The switch to Craig Melvin added new energy. Ratings for Today’s first week with the new lineup rose by 8.2%, according to Nielsen reports from January 2025. Morning viewers tend to resist change, yet Melvin’s chemistry with Guthrie has been strong — even drawing praise from critics at TVLine and The Hollywood Reporter. Still, fans miss the familiar “Savannah & Hoda” rhythm.
Guthrie Reacts to Kotb’s Departure
At the Project Healthy Minds Gala, she didn’t shy away from emotions. Guthrie called Kotb “her sister” and admitted that hosting without her would be a massive adjustment. “We did life together,” she said. The quote quickly spread across Instagram, racking up over 1.2 million likes within 24 hours on the show’s official account.
In interviews throughout October and November 2024, Guthrie continued to praise Kotb’s warmth and leadership. While she expressed a desire to keep the show’s spirit alive, she also acknowledged the emotional toll of losing a long-time partner. “Some days, I miss her laugh in my earpiece,” she told People on October 19, 2024.
Recent Absences and What They Mean
Guthrie’s March 2025 absence had fans buzzing because it followed a particularly dramatic news cycle. She had just wrapped a segment on the State of the Union and suddenly vanished from screens the next day. Turns out, she was enjoying spring break with her family in Utah, confirmed via her own Instagram story posted on March 15, 2025.
The May 26, 2025 Memorial Day gap was no different — entirely routine. NBC anchors frequently rotate on holidays, and both Guthrie and Melvin took the day off. Replacement hosts Jarrett and Alexander held down the fort, but the temporary switch still led to 17,000 tweets speculating on her status that week. People really don’t like change in their mornings.
Career Moves Ahead? Book Tour & Passion Projects
Her book, Mostly What God Does Is Love You, isn’t just another side hustle. It landed on the New York Times Best Seller list in the Children’s Picture Book category on March 3, 2025. Guthrie has spoken openly about writing it for her kids and has done over 12 speaking events since February.
Between stops in St. Louis and Philadelphia, she also met with nonprofit groups promoting literacy, something she’s championed since her UNICEF trip to Malawi in 2017. If anything, her book tour adds layers to her brand without signaling an end to Today. The energy she brings to both worlds suggests she’s nowhere near done juggling.
Industry Buzz & Speculation
Inside sources (the kind that leak to media, not the coffee machine kind) suggest NBC is planning subtle programming shifts in Fall 2025. While no names were dropped, analysts believe they’re prepping for generational turnover. At 52, Guthrie’s not “old” by TV standards — George Stephanopoulos is 63 and still going strong.
In fact, NBC signed a new ad deal with Procter & Gamble tied to Guthrie-led segments, set to run until late 2026. If they were phasing her out, they wouldn’t be anchoring revenue-generating content to her presence. But the media loves cliffhangers, and Guthrie’s absence even for a day sparks new predictions.
Business & Investment Angle—Why It Matters
The Today Show brings in millions in ad revenue, and much of that depends on trust. Guthrie has a Q Score of 21 as of February 2025, making her one of the most liked female anchors in U.S. broadcast history. Replacing someone with that level of public approval? A PR minefield.
Moreover, Today was still pulling in 3.17 million viewers daily in Q1 2025 — roughly 23% more than Good Morning America. Advertisers pay more when trusted personalities deliver the news. Savannah stepping down would require months of branding prep and could cause a dip in quarterly projections. Investors care about faces just as much as figures.
If She Left—What’s the Scenario?
Let’s play what-if. If Guthrie exits, NBC has three strong internal candidates. Laura Jarrett is rising fast — she hosted 7 straight days during Guthrie’s book tour. Peter Alexander has seniority and sharp political chops. Dylan Dreyer could bring a soft, family-friendly tone if the show leaned that way.
No matter who steps in, the transition would be heavily managed. In 2023, when Lester Holt took a summer break, NBC spent $2 million prepping promo packages to prevent viewer panic. They’d likely do the same — maybe even more — to maintain continuity if Guthrie ever gave notice.
Final Take: Is She Leaving or Staying?
She’s still showing up at 4 a.m., sipping coffee behind the scenes, and delivering headlines with the same poise she’s had since 2012. While her priorities might evolve, nothing — not one single interview, post, or absence — confirms she’s leaving anytime soon.
Until an official announcement comes, treat this the same way you treat a snow day forecast in April: a lot of noise, a little drama, and mostly just people talking.
