'Lots of Hugs': Behind the Scenes of Savannah Guthrie's Emotional Return to the 'Today' Show

Since Nancy Guthrie's abduction in February 2026, her daughter, Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie has remained off-air. Her absence from the show came to an end on April 6, when she returned to her usual hosting duties.

Given what Savannah has been going through for the past couple of months, it isn't much surprising that she seemed to be dealing with significant emotional strain behind the scenes, according to reports.

On screen, she was seen smiling and doing her job like always. But off-camera, she reportedly appeared to be struggling and quietly dealing with her emotions.

Savannah Guthrie’s return to the Today show was not as easy as it looked. While she appeared smiling on camera, some behind-the-scenes moments told a different story. In one candid shot from Getty Images, she appeared focused on her phone between segments.

It appeared that even when she tried to act normal onscreen, emotions were still flooding her inner core. She still seemed disassociated and worried about her mother's whereabouts and safety.

Savannah had offered a glimpse into her emotional state during a March interview, and colleagues said the transition back to a professional on-air role was not without difficulty.

So, even though she returned to work, many had anticipated that she would be dealing with a lot of emotions. Reports and backstage photos suggest there were many tender moments following her return.

One source told Page Six that “There were lots of hugs... Coming back to a routine brings a sense of normalcy.” Still, switching from emotional moments to a professional on-air role took a toll on Savannah Guthrie.

Despite her emotional struggles, Savannah Guthrie was praised for staying strong during her return to the Today show. Sources revealed that she was even described as “a trooper” for maintaining composure throughout the show.

Savannah's return comes weeks after her emotional interview with Hoda Kotb, where she blamed her own fame for her mother’s abduction. In addition to her emotional turmoil, experts also noticed changes in her behavior following her onscreen return.

Body language expert Dr. Abbie Maroño revealed that Savannah not only appeared to be in a “heightened emotional state,” but also appeared to shut down at times.

According to her, this happens when a person is under stress and trying to manage both their emotions and their work at the same time.

“She didn’t look fully relaxed into it though, her shoulders stayed slightly held and there was less spontaneity in her reactions than you would typically expect from her,” Maroño told Page Six.

“When the body is under emotional strain, you often see reduced variability like this because attention is split between performing and regulating," she added.