At a Glance
- Savannah Guthrie returned to the Today show via video on Jan. 20 to unveil her voice after vocal-cord surgery
- She is cleared to speak five to 10 minutes each hour as part of a gradual recovery that began with two weeks of total silence
- The anchor plans an on-air comeback next Monday, with a segment Friday chronicling the operation and rehab
- Why it matters: Viewers who endured her raspy broadcasts will hear a clearer tone and learn the medical reason behind her extended absence
Savannah Guthrie surprised her Today colleagues-and roughly four million regular viewers-on Tuesday, Jan. 20, by speaking publicly for the first time since mid-December after undergoing surgery to remove nodules and polyps from her vocal cords.
First Words on Air
Co-anchoring the Morning Boost segment remotely, Guthrie, 54, opened with handwritten notes on her trademark whiteboard before tossing it aside.
“You know what, I think it’d be easier for me to just talk!” she said, prompting cheers from Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Sheinelle Jones, and Carson Daly on Studio 1A.
The journalist explained that while her recovery is ongoing, doctors have lifted the strict silence imposed for the first 14 days post-operation.
“I am still on vocal rest, but I’m allowed to talk for five to 10 minutes every hour,” she told them. “This is my new voice-or my old voice-but my new voice.”
Roker insisted, “You sound the same,” yet Melvin countered, “No, it sounds…you sound markedly better!”
Surgical Fix for Years-Long Problem
Guthrie first disclosed the upcoming procedure in December, telling News Of Los Angeles readers that some viewers assumed she had “the world’s longest head cold.” In reality, hoarseness had plagued her for years.
“I’m really excited to have finally diagnosed the problem and found a fix,” she said then, noting that polyps and nodules had built up on her vocal cords.
On Jan. 20 she confirmed the operation succeeded: “I think the good news is that it worked!”
Jones-who had the same surgery-empathized, calling recovery “kind of slow” and warning that overuse causes fatigue.
Home Testing with Family
Daly asked whether Guthrie had “given it a good test ride” by raising her voice at home.
“Actually, yes,” she replied, laughing that a long weekend solo with daughter Vale, 11, and son Charley, 9, while husband Mike Feldman traveled provided the perfect stress test.
Return Timeline
Guthrie outlined her schedule:
- Friday: She will be in-studio to pre-tape a story detailing the surgery experience
- Next Monday: Full-time return to the anchor desk
She has been off the air since mid-December, making Tuesday’s cameo her first live appearance in more than a month.
Key Takeaways
- Guthrie’s surgery targeted chronic vocal-cord polyps and nodules that distorted her voice for years
- Doctors limited her to brief intervals of speech to protect healing tissue
- Colleagues detected audible improvement, signaling a potentially permanent fix
- Viewers can expect a special segment Friday followed by her regular anchor duties Monday
