Savannah Guthrie Explains Her ‘Today’ Show Break: It’s All About Wordle!

Updated July 16, 2026, 1:46 p.m. ET

What’s Happening with Savannah Guthrie?

Imagine you have a favorite morning TV show host who suddenly isn’t there for a few days. That’s what happened with Savannah Guthrie, a longtime host of NBC’s "Today" show. People were confused and guessing why she was missing.

But unlike a tricky Wordle puzzle (a game where you guess a 5-letter word), Savannah is now telling us exactly what’s going on!

She Told Us on Thursday, July 16

On Thursday, July 16, Savannah appeared on the morning talk show and explained everything.

• She was announced back in May as the host of NBC’s new Wordle game show (a TV version of the word-guessing game).
• She said she will take a short break from "Today" because they are starting to film the new show.
• Savannah, who is 54 years old, said: "I’m headed over to shoot Wordle over the next few weeks. We’re going to shoot the whole season, and we’re super excited. [We] cannot wait for everyone to see it. It’ll probably air in the New Year."

Important Point: Savannah’s break from "Today" is only temporary and is to film the Wordle show. The new Wordle season will likely be on TV in January 2027!

A Quick Timeline of Her Recent Absences

Here’s what happened over the past few weeks:

1. July 8: Sheinelle Jones (another "Today" host) filled in for Savannah alongside Craig Melvin.
2. July 9: Laura Jarrett (a "Today" anchor) took her spot. No reason was given on the show.
3. July 10: Laura Jarrett filled in again.
4. July 13: Sheinelle Jones covered for her.
5. July 14: Savannah returned to the desk. Craig Melvin said she was back after "some much-deserved time off."
6. July 16: She announced the Wordle filming break.

This isn’t the first Wordle-related break. In June, she missed one episode because she was in "production meetings" for the show.

What Is the Wordle Show, Anyway?

The NBC competition series is made by Jimmy Fallon (the host of "Tonight Show"). Here’s the simple version:

• Players compete to solve five-letter word puzzles.
• It’s like a big, fun battle of brains, speed, and smiles.
• The show was announced on May 11.
• Filming the test episode was supposed to happen in March but got delayed because of a family emergency (more below).

Important Point: When Savannah’s family emergency happened, the producers (including Jimmy Fallon) paused everything and said, "We’ll wait for you." She thanked them for that kindness.

Why Was the Wordle Filming Delayed Earlier?

In February, Savannah’s mom, Nancy Guthrie, disappeared from her home in Arizona. This is a very sad and serious story.

• Nancy was last seen on January 31 in Catalina Foothills (near Tucson).
• She is believed to have been taken from her home against her will (a kidnapping).
• The FBI shared pictures of a person with a weapon at her door, but that person hasn’t been found.
• The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is still investigating.
• The family is offering up to $1 million for info that brings Nancy home.

Because of this, Savannah stepped away from "Today" in February. On July 1, she told a Tucson TV station: "It is five months of agony and unending trauma for our family… Bring her home."

Summary

Savannah Guthrie is taking a short break from the "Today" show to film NBC’s new Wordle game show. She explained this on July 16 after some unexplained absences. The Wordle show, hosted by her and produced by Jimmy Fallon, will air around New Year. Her break is also connected to earlier delays caused by her mother Nancy’s disappearance in February, which is still being investigated with a $1 million reward offered.

FAQ

Q: Why was Savannah Guthrie missing from the "Today" show recently?
A: She had a few unexplained absences in July, but on July 16 she said it’s because she’s filming the new Wordle game show for the next few weeks.

Q: When will the Wordle TV show be on TV?
A: Savannah said they are filming the whole season now and it will probably air in the New Year (January 2027).

Q: Is Savannah leaving the "Today" show forever?
A: No! She is only taking a brief hiatus (short break) to film Wordle, then she’ll be back.

Q: What happened to Savannah’s mom?
A: Her mother Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Arizona home in February in a suspected kidnapping. The case is still open, and the family is offering up to $1 million for helpful information.