Some “Today” show viewers may have noticed Savannah Guthrie is missing, but the popular host’s absence is only temporary.
Guthrie, 54, has been absent since mid-December, telling viewers of the NBC morning show that she would undergo vocal cord surgery in the new year.
“I have to be silent for a couple of weeks, totally silent. I know, the jokes write themselves,” Guthrie shared on Dec. 19, when announcing her planned absence. “Christmas coming early for my family.”
In an update shared to social media on Jan. 5, the NBC anchor appeared to be in good spirits, sharing a photo of a message written on a whiteboard: “All good! Thanks for prayers and love!”
Guthrie also made it a point to tell “Today” viewers that she won’t be gone for long, writing, “See you soon!” in the caption of the post.
Here’s what we know about Guthrie’s condition, and when she may return to “Today.”
See Teyana Taylor, Ariana Grande in the best celebrity photos of January
1 of 34
New year, new star sightings. With the Oscar nominations in sight, celebrities are kicking off 2026 on the awards circuit, stepping out at events like the Palm Springs International Film Awards and Critics Choice Awards.
Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of January so far, starting with Teyana Taylor at the Palm Springs Film Awards on Jan. 3, 2026, in California.
What’s going on with Savannah Guthrie?
During the show’s Dec. 19 broadcast, Guthrie revealed she would undergo vocal surgery in the new year to remove a polyp and vocal nodules, commonly known as “vocal cord lesions,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“Some of you have noticed that my voice has been very scratchy and started to crack a little bit,” Guthrie said. “Well, I have found out what it is. I have vocal nodules, and now I also have a polyp.”
Savannah Guthrie seen on set of NBC’s “Today” show on July 16, 2021.
According to Penn Medicine, vocal cord cysts, nodules and polyps are non-cancerous growths or bumps that are most commonly seen among people who spend a lot of time speaking or singing.
Growths typically form on the vocal cords, the muscles and tissue that line your voice box (larynx) and are caused by a virus, illness or poor vocal technique/hygiene, Penn Medicine says.
Treatments include voice therapy, behavioral modifications and surgery.
When is Savannah Guthrie returning to ‘Today’?
A return date has yet to be announced, but Guthrie assured fans in her recent social media post that she’ll be back “soon.”
Contributing: Edward Segarra and Brendan Morrow, USA Today
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Savannah Guthrie is absent from ‘Today’ show