Savannah Guthrie Resurfaces During ‘Much-Needed’ Today Break With Husband at U.S. Open

Savannah Guthrie has made her first public appearance since stepping away from the Today anchor desk this week, turning up at the U.S. Open in New York alongside her husband, Michael Feldman.

The 54-year-old NBC anchor attended a special Roger Federer exhibition event at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday, August 25. Her appearance came after colleagues told viewers she was taking some time off, with Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker stepping into her seat.

Guthrie appeared in good spirits during the outing, smiling for photographers in a sleeveless floral Dolce & Gabbana midi dress, transparent heels and gold jewelry. Feldman accompanied her in a blue blazer, white shirt and dark trousers.

Savannah steps out after disappearing from the Today desk

Guthrie had not appeared in her usual Today position since the previous Friday. She normally anchors the program’s first two hours alongside Craig Melvin, but the lineup looked noticeably different this week.

On Monday, August 24, Kristen Welker joined Melvin at the desk as Guthrie began her break. Welker, who previously co-hosted Weekend Today before becoming moderator of Meet the Press, traveled from NBC’s Washington operation to fill in.

Melvin told viewers Guthrie was enjoying some time off, while reports described the absence as a “much-needed” or “much-deserved” break. NBC did not announce a specific reason for the time away or exactly how long Guthrie would be absent.

The changes continued Tuesday and Wednesday when Carson Daly moved into Melvin’s anchor position while Melvin also took time away. That left Welker and Daly handling duties normally occupied by Today‘s two principal anchors.

A rare date night with Michael Feldman

Guthrie’s whereabouts became clearer Tuesday when she and Feldman appeared at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens.

A longtime tennis enthusiast, Guthrie attended “Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York,” where Federer returned for exhibition matches involving Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe.

The evening also represented a relatively rare public date night for Guthrie and Feldman. The couple, who share daughter Vale and son Charley, posed together as they arrived at the event.

Her appearance was particularly notable because it marked her first red-carpet outing since her mother Nancy Guthrie disappeared earlier this year.

A difficult year away from the cameras

Guthrie’s recent breaks from Today have come during an exceptionally challenging period for her family.

Her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona, home on February 1. Authorities have said they believe she was abducted, and the investigation remains unresolved. No publicly identified suspect has been charged in connection with her disappearance.

Guthrie initially stepped away from Today for roughly two months following her mother’s disappearance before eventually returning to the morning show.

She has since spoken candidly about how deeply the situation continues to affect her. During a June appearance on Today, Guthrie said the pain remains with her throughout the day and described work as one of the few places where she can temporarily focus on something else.

In an August 1 message, Guthrie said she and her siblings remained determined to learn what happened to their mother and give her the dignified farewell she deserves.

Guthrie has also been working on a new NBC project

Not all of Guthrie’s recent absences have been related to her family circumstances.

Earlier this summer, she took several weeks away from Today to work on NBC’s television adaptation of Wordle, based on the popular New York Times word game.

Guthrie is set to host the game show, while Jimmy Fallon serves as an executive producer. The series is expected to premiere in 2027.

Her latest absence, however, was presented simply as time off rather than another work assignment.

For viewers wondering where Guthrie had gone, Tuesday’s U.S. Open appearance provided the first glimpse of the longtime Today anchor during her break: away from Studio 1A, enjoying an evening of tennis alongside her husband while Welker and her other NBC colleagues kept the morning show running in her absence.