Savannah Guthrie is temporarily stepping away from the Today show.
The longtime co-host announced on Friday’s broadcast that she will undergo vocal surgery in the new year after experiencing ongoing issues with her voice.
“Some of you have noticed that my voice has been very scratchy and started to crack a little bit,” Guthrie, 53, told viewers. “Well, I have found out what it is. I have vocal nodules, and I also have a polyp. It’s not a big, big deal, but I am going to have to have surgery in the new year and be off for a couple of weeks, so this is my last day for a little while.”
Guthrie added that the issue has persisted for years, saying she’s relieved to finally have a solution.
Savannah Guthrie on the Today show in 2023.
Michael Feldman and Savannah Guthrie were spotted in New York City on Oct. 9.
The anchor joked that viewers may have assumed she was battling “the world’s longest head cold” while on air, but said she’s relieved—and “really excited”—to finally have answers about what’s been affecting her voice.
Following the procedure, Guthrie will be unable to speak for a couple of weeks.
“Totally silent,” she quipped. “Christmas coming early for my family!”
Guthrie and her husband, Michael Feldman, share two children: daughter Vale, 11, and son Charley, 9.
Here’s a polished rewrite that maintains a light, conversational tone while staying news-ready:
Sheinelle Jones, Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin and Al Roker appeared together on the Today show.
During the segment, co-host Sheinelle Jones revealed that she has undergone the same vocal surgery and offered words of encouragement.
“The silver lining is you have permission to be still. The house gets quiet, the kids are gonna want to help you out,” Jones said. “A lot of the greats have done it—maybe you’ll come out singing like, I don’t know, Celine Dion.”
Guthrie responded with a laugh, joking about her changing voice over the years. “It’s really funny—I used to sing. Then I couldn’t sing anymore, and then I couldn’t speak anymore,” she said. “So who knows? Guys, the tour is happening in 2026.”
Guthrie has previously been open with viewers about health scares. In 2019, she underwent eye surgery after her son accidentally hit her with a sharp toy train, causing a retinal tear.
“The retinal tear had deteriorated sharply, and I lost my vision. And that’s what happens if you don’t fix this: You lose your sight,” she told People at the time. “I was hoping they weren’t going to get in there and see, ‘Oh, it’s worse than we thought. We can’t fix it.’ That was probably the lowest I felt, because I was just really scared.”
