Kristen Welker Returns to Today as Savannah Guthrie Takes Time Off

A familiar NBC News face returned to Studio 1A on Monday morning, with Kristen Welker temporarily taking Savannah Guthrie’s place alongside Craig Melvin on Today.

Guthrie was absent from the August 24 broadcast while taking some time off, Melvin told viewers at the start of the show. Her absence came only weeks after she returned from another extended break earlier this summer.

Welker, meanwhile, looked completely at home behind the Today desk — hardly surprising given her own history with the morning show.

Craig Melvin explains Savannah Guthrie’s absence

Melvin addressed the change in lineup at the beginning of Monday’s broadcast while welcoming viewers to the new week.

“We’re gonna get outside and celebrate with everyone in just a few minutes. Thank you so much for starting your Monday morning off with us,” he said, before explaining that Welker was joining the show while Guthrie “enjoys some time off.”

Welker appeared enthusiastic about being back in Studio 1A, telling viewers she was looking forward to heading outside to meet the crowd and enjoy the pleasant New York weather.

The substitution did not represent a permanent shake-up. NBC continues to list Guthrie and Melvin as the weekday co-anchors of Today.

Kristen Welker has a long history with Today

Although Welker is now best known as moderator of Meet the Press, Monday’s appearance was something of a homecoming.

She co-hosted Weekend Today from 2020 until 2023, sharing the desk with Peter Alexander before leaving the program to take on one of NBC News’ most prominent political broadcasting roles.

Her departure from the weekend show in August 2023 was emotional. Welker thanked viewers and the Weekend Today staff, describing the team as a family and expressing gratitude to her husband, John Hughes, and daughter Margo.

She also paid a particularly personal tribute to Alexander.

Welker recalled how the two had once imagined what it might be like to anchor a program together, long before they eventually got that opportunity. She described working alongside someone who had become like a brother to her as one of the great joys of her career.

From Weekend Today to Meet the Press

Welker left her regular Today duties after being selected to succeed Chuck Todd as moderator of Meet the Press.

Speaking about the promotion in 2023, she described the opportunity as both an extraordinary honor and a major responsibility, saying the role had surpassed what she had imagined for her career.

Laura Jarrett subsequently joined Alexander as co-anchor of Weekend Today in September 2023.

The weekend lineup changed again this year when Alexander departed NBC in March. He said he wanted a better balance between his career and family life before moving on to a new hosting position with MS Now.

NBC had not announced a permanent replacement for Alexander on Weekend Today at the time of Monday’s broadcast.

Savannah wasn’t the only familiar face missing

Guthrie’s absence was part of a noticeably different Today lineup on August 24.

Al Roker, Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones were also away from their usual positions.

Dylan Dreyer stepped in for Roker during the earlier portion of the broadcast, while NBC News correspondent Kaylee Hartung handled duties during the third hour.

Melvin did not provide an explanation on air for all of the other absences.

The substitutions came during a period when viewers have become accustomed to seeing familiar NBC personalities move between different hours of the program. Today currently features Guthrie and Melvin as its principal weekday anchors, with Roker, Carson Daly, Jenna Bush Hager, Sheinelle Jones, Dylan Dreyer, Laura Jarrett and Willie Geist among the broader roster across its weekday and weekend broadcasts.

Guthrie recently returned from another lengthy break

Guthrie’s latest time away follows a separate absence earlier in the summer.

She spent several weeks away from Today to work on NBC’s upcoming television adaptation of Wordle, based on the popular New York Times word game.

Before beginning production, Guthrie told viewers during the July 16 episode that she was preparing to film an entire season of the new game show over the following weeks.

She also indicated at the time that the series was expected to premiere in the new year.

Guthrie will host Wordle, while Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon is attached as an executive producer.

After completing that production commitment, she returned to the Today desk earlier in August.

Her latest absence, however, was presented much more simply. Melvin told viewers she was enjoying some time off, with Welker stepping in beside him for Monday’s broadcast.

For longtime Today viewers, the temporary switch offered a chance to see a familiar former weekend anchor back behind the Studio 1A desk — this time sitting alongside Melvin on the flagship weekday broadcast.