Why Was Hoda Kotb Absent From Today This Week?

Hoda Kotb has seemingly taken a step back as NBC’s Today prepares to welcome back Savannah Guthrie.

While the search for her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, continues, Savannah will return to Today‘s Studio 1A on Monday, April 6. Savannah has been absent from the NBC morning show since Nancy was reported missing in early February. Though Kotb stepped away from Today in January 2025, she returned to her former co-anchor role in February as Savannah spent time with her family in Tucson, Arizona.

Kotb has continued to serve as Savannah’s primary replacement. Other hosts, such as Sheinelle Jones and Laura Jarrett, have also stepped in over the past two months. Kotb, however, was noticeably absent from this week’s episodes, having not appeared on the show since Friday, March 27.

Jarrett has filled in for Kotb all week, as Jones has also been away from the show while enjoying spring break with her kids. Though Kotb’s colleagues have not explained the reason for her absence, she may also be spending time with her daughters — Haley and Hope — during their spring break from school. (Kotb shares her kids with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman.)

A handful of hosts skipped out on Today‘s Friday, April 3, episode ahead of the holiday weekend, including Carson Daly, Al Roker, and Jenna Bush Hager. Today fans know that Bush Hager does not appear on Fridays. Roker, for his part, is likely traveling back to New York City after spending the past two days covering the Artemis II space launch in Florida.

Nathan Congleton/NBC

Kotb’s week-long absence also comes amid online speculation that she will not appear on Today for Savannah’s return. In a recent Substack post, sources allegedly told journalist Rob Shuter that Kotb will miss Monday’s episode, as the show wants the focus to be on Savannah and Craig Melvin‘s anchor partnership. (Neither NBC nor Kotb has addressed the online reports.)

Kotb has remained a frequent presence on Today since stepping down as a host. The TV personality occasionally returns to share heartwarming human-interest stories and to talk about her latest projects. In the year since her exit, Kotb has launched her wellness company, Joy 101, and released her latest book, Jump and Find Joy.

Earlier this month, Kotb sat down with Savannah for her first TV interview since Nancy’s disappearance on Today. Savannah opened up about her family’s reaction to the investigation, as well as shared her thanks for the support of her Today family and fans. (No suspects have been named in the case, but the Guthrie family have been cleared.)

Back in January, Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford also returned to the fourth hour of Today to celebrate Jones’ first day as Jenna Bush Hager’s permanent co-host. Following Kotb’s exit, Bush Hager led the fourth hour with a series of celebrity guest hosts under the title Today With Jenna & Friends.

Jones returned to Today in September 2025 following the death of her husband, Uche Ojeh, that May. She made her Jenna & Friends co-hosting debut that same month and was announced as Bush Hager’s new co-host in December 2025. The show relaunched as Today With Jenna & Sheinelle in January.

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