Savannah Guthrie back on 'Today' after 2 weeks away: "We missed you!"

Savannah Guthrie returned to the Today show on Tuesday, September 8, receiving a warm welcome from co-host Craig Melvin after spending two weeks away from the NBC morning program.

The 54-year-old anchor appeared cheerful as she joined Melvin at the desk, looking ready for the arrival of fall in a short-sleeved denim dress. Her return came as Today settled into its autumn schedule, and Melvin quickly made it clear that her absence had been noticed.

“Look who’s back, Savannah Guthrie, we missed you!” he said as he welcomed his co-host back to the program.

Guthrie responded with a playful comment about the start of the school year, telling viewers, “It’s back-to-school week for everybody. I’m bringing you a shiny new apple at 7:30.”

Guthrie had been away from the program since late August, although she remained visible during her time off. She and her husband, Michael Feldman, were spotted attending a U.S. Open exhibition event at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City, where she watched tennis legends Roger Federer and Andy Roddick.

The outing was also notable because it came months after Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie , disappeared from her home in Arizona.

Guthrie balances Today return with family ordeal

Nancy , 84, was last seen at her Tucson-area residence on February 1 and is believed to have been abducted. The investigation remains active, leaving Guthrie and her family facing months of uncertainty as they continue to search for answers.

Guthrie initially stepped away from the Today desk following her mother’s disappearance before returning to the program in April. She later took another break during the summer while filming the first season of NBC’s upcoming Wordle game show, based on The New York Times’ popular word game. The program is expected to premiere in 2027.

Throughout the ordeal, Guthrie has received support from colleagues including Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager. She has also spoken openly about the emotional impact of Nancy’s disappearance, describing the situation as devastating for herself, her siblings and their children.

In an emotional interview earlier this year, Guthrie discussed the painful uncertainty surrounding her mother’s disappearance and rejected speculation involving her brother-in-law, Tommaso Cioni. She said such theories had added another layer of distress to an already unbearable situation.

Meanwhile, investigators continue to treat Nancy’s disappearance as an active case. Former FBI agent Scott Augenbaum previously emphasized that it shouldn’t be considered a cold case because authorities haven’t closed the investigation.

“This is by no means a cold case," Augembaum told Tucson station KOLD.

"A cold case is something that has been closed; it’s been put away," he added.

"So in my opinion, this case is not closed at all. It’s still being held very tightly guarded by law enforcement, which I would expect at this point in time.”