The Real Reason Savannah Guthrie Abruptly Left Today Mid-Show After Report She Has a Code Word to ‘Pull Her Immediately’ Off the Air
Savannah Guthrie abruptly left Today halfway through the show on Wednesday, April 15.
OK! Magazine reported that Guthrie introduced Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway before Today went to a commercial. When the show returned, Guthrie was gone, and co-anchor Hoda Kotb stepped in to interview Hathaway about her upcoming movies, Mother Mary and The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Neither NBC nor the Today show has addressed Guthrie’s disappearance from the broadcast, leaving many on social media wondering if it was related to her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie.
Related: Who are Savannah Guthrie’s siblings?
In fact, an insider told The Daily Mail in a report published on April 11 that NBC has come up with a code word to inform Guthrie of any major developments in her mother’s case while she is on air. If that happens, Guthrie would be told that she’s “needed off set,” and she understands that this means there is a potential update about her 86-year-old mother.
“We would pull her immediately, mid-segment if we had to,” they explained. “She would understand that there was news about her mom and we’d take her into an office and tell her, at the same time that another anchor would report it as a breaking story.”
However, it turns out the speculation is just that because Guthrie was back on air a few minutes after the interview took place. A second source told The Daily Mail in a report published on April 16 that its “not unusual for a host to tease an upcoming segment at any point, and for another host to do the interview. “
Guthrie stepped away from the Today show temporarily to be with her family amid her mother’s disappearance. She returned to Today on April 6, telling viewers it was “good to be back home.” Although NBC believes she is back for good, they are willing to accommodate Guthrie if she needs to take any additional time off.
“If she isn’t feeling it, or needs more time off, she will be given it,” the first source stated. “Whether Hoda would be the one to replace her is another conversation. They would love to have Savannah back full-time, but if she has to leave, they will allow her, but they anticipate she is back for good.”
Nancy has been missing since early February 2026, when she was reportedly taken from her home by a masked assailant. Authorities have not yet identified a suspect or motive, but the reward for information about Nancy’s case is up to $1 million.
