Savannah Guthrie’s moving return to Today was marked by tears of gratitude when the longtime host heard her newly restored voice for the first time after throat surgery.
The 54-year-old anchor had been absent from the NBC morning show for three weeks while he underwent corrective surgery to repair damaged vocal cords.
Guthrie documented his trip in a segment that aired upon his return.
The mini-segment showed the decline in his voice quality over the past few months and the surgery that ultimately gave him a fresh start.
Guthrie revealed that specialists discovered a ruptured blood vessel on one vocal cord and a callus from overuse on the other.
The operation lasted an hour and then required eight days of complete silence.
At a follow-up appointment, Guthrie broke down in tears when her doctor asked her to recite her familiar morning greeting.
“Hello. Today is Tuesday, January 13, 2026. I’m using my voice for the first time and it sounds great. I could cry,” she said, visibly moved by the transformation.
Returning to the studio, Guthrie thanked his colleagues for ensuring his absence and expressed his deep gratitude for NBC’s support.
“Taking three weeks off is a really big deal,” she said. “I’m so grateful to be back and I’m ready to go.”
Earlier in the week, Guthrie joined her co-hosts via video feed, explaining that she was still on vocal rest and allowed to speak only five to ten minutes per hour.
Guthrie first announced plans to resolve his vocal cord issues on December 19, his last day on the air before surgery.
With her full-time return scheduled for Monday, she now looks forward to continuing her role on Today with renewed confidence and a stronger voice.
