Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie Return to Today Show After Health Challenges
Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie are back at the helm of NBC's Today show after a two-week absence. Kotb was absent due to a family health matter while Guthrie tested positive for COVID-19.[0]
Kotb addressed her prolonged absence at the top of Monday's show, revealing that her three-year-old daughter, Hope, had been in the ICU for a few days battling a health issue.[1] She explained, “I was waiting for that day to come, and we are watching her closely. I’m just so happy.”[2]
Kotb shared cryptic messages on her Instagram account throughout her absence, including one that read, “Sometimes miracles are just good people with kind hearts.”[3] Meanwhile, Guthrie left the show mid-broadcast on Tuesday after testing positive for the coronavirus. Sheinelle Jones revealed the surprise diagnosis, telling viewers, “By the way, it has been an interesting morning for us. As we said, Savannah left early, she wasn’t feeling great, so she took a COVID test. It came back positive.”[4]
Craig Melvin addressed both hosts' absences on Wednesday, updating viewers on Kotb's condition and confirming that Guthrie was recovering from COVID-19.[5] He said, “We look forward to seeing Hoda and Savannah back here at the desk very, very soon.”[6]
Al Roker also offered his support, assuring fans that Kotb is doing OK and is “dealing with what she’s gotta deal with and all will be good.”[5]
Kotb is the mother to two children, daughter Hope and five-year-old Haley, whom she adopted with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman.[7] The former couple called it quits in December 2021 after eight years together, but Schiffman continues to co-parent.[2]
Kotb and Guthrie ended their return episode with a message of solidarity, with Guthrie telling her co-host, “I love you too.[8] You have a lot of friends out there.[9] We are right there with you, lifting you up and holding you.[9] So let's do this.
0. “Hoda Kotb Returns to ‘Today’ Show, Explains Absence — Watch” TVLine, 6 Mar. 2023, https://tvline.com/2023/03/06/hoda-kotb-returns-today-show-video-announcement-absence/
1. “Hoda Kotb Says She Struggled to Have Gratitude Amid Daughter Hope's Hospitalization: ‘I Was Scared'” Entertainment Tonight, 6 Mar. 2023, https://www.etonline.com/hoda-kotb-says-she-struggled-to-have-gratitude-amid-daughter-hopes-hospitalization-i-was-scared
2. “Hoda Kotb returns to ‘Today' with details on absence” UPI News, 6 Mar. 2023, https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2023/03/06/hoda-kotb-today-show/4371678111221
3. “NBC reveals reason for absence of ‘Today' star Hoda Kotb” New York Post , 1 Mar. 2023, https://nypost.com/2023/03/01/nbc-reveals-reason-for-absence-of-today-star-hoda-kotb
4. “Today's Craig Melvin Teases Return of Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie Amid Absences” E! NEWS, 3 Mar. 2023, https://www.eonline.com/news/1366822/todays-craig-melvin-teases-return-of-hoda-kotb-and-savannah-guthrie-amid-absences
5. “Al Roker Says Hoda Kotb Is ‘Dealing With What She Has to Deal With’ Amid ‘Today’ Show Absence: ‘She’s Going to Be Just Fine’” Us Weekly, 4 Mar. 2023, https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/al-roker-hoda-kotb-will-be-just-fine-amid-today-absence
6. “Hoda Kotb's Absence On ‘Today' Finally Explained” HuffPost, 1 Mar. 2023, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hoda-kotb-today-absence_n_63ff9a2ce4b05f1e793d0f5f
7. “Hoda Kotb makes emotional return to ‘Today' revealing daughter's hospitalization” New York Post , 6 Mar. 2023, https://nypost.com/2023/03/06/hoda-kotb-returns-to-today-reveals-daughters-hospitalization
8. “Hoda Kotb Returns to Today After Daughter's Hospitalization” Jezebel, 6 Mar. 2023, https://jezebel.com/hoda-kotb-today-return-daughter-hospital-1850191968
9. “Hoda Kotb Tears Up Revealing 3-Year-Old Daughter's ICU Stay” TooFab, 6 Mar. 2023, https://toofab.com/2023/03/06/hoda-kotb-3-year-old-daughters-icu-stay
