Savannah Guthrie: The Lawyer-Turned-Journalist Anchoring NBC’s “Today”
Savannah Guthrie has spent more than a decade as one of the most recognizable faces in American morning television, co-anchoring NBC’s “Today” show since 2012. But long before she was trading banter with co-hosts at Studio 1A, Guthrie built an entirely different career as a practicing attorney — a background that has shaped her interviewing style and set her apart from many of her broadcast peers.
Here’s a closer look at her education, career, and personal life.
Who Is Savannah Guthrie?
Savannah Clark Guthrie is an American broadcast journalist and former attorney who has served as a main co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show since July 2012, when she replaced Ann Curry. She was born December 27, 1971, in Melbourne, Australia, where her father, Charles, a mining engineer, was temporarily stationed for work. The family relocated to the United States when Guthrie was two years old, and she was raised in Tucson, Arizona.
Early Life and Education
Guthrie’s father, Michael, died of a heart attack when she was 16, a loss she has described as having torn her “whole world apart.” She went on to attend the University of Arizona, living at home in part because she and her sister didn’t want to leave their mother alone. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism in 1993.
After several years working in local television, Guthrie made the decision to attend law school, enrolling at Georgetown University Law Center. She graduated magna cum laude in 2002 and, that same year, earned the highest score on the Arizona bar exam. In 2023, Georgetown honored her with an honorary Doctorate of Law for her journalism on legal and justice issues.
Career Timeline
Local News and Early Broadcasting
Guthrie’s first broadcasting job came in October 1993 at KTVM, the NBC affiliate in Butte, Montana — though the station’s local news operation closed just 10 days into her tenure. She went on to work at NBC affiliate KVOA in Tucson, Arizona, before moving to NBC’s Washington, D.C. station, WRC, where she covered the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the subsequent anthrax poisonings as a freelance reporter.
Practicing Law
After earning her law degree, Guthrie practiced from 2002 to 2003 at the firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, specializing in white-collar criminal defense. She turned down a federal judicial clerkship to return to journalism, later saying she wasn’t ready to leave television behind for good.
Court TV and Return to NBC
In 2004, Guthrie combined her legal training with her broadcasting background, joining Court TV as a legal affairs correspondent covering high-profile trials, including the Michael Jackson child molestation case. She returned to NBC in 2007 as a legal correspondent before being named the network’s White House correspondent, a role she held from 2008 to 2011. In that position, she covered the 2008 presidential election, including extensive reporting on Sarah Palin’s vice presidential campaign, and was part of an NBC team that won an Emmy for its election night coverage. She also co-anchored MSNBC’s “The Daily Rundown” in 2010 and 2011.
“Today” Show
Guthrie joined “Today” in 2011 and was named a main co-anchor in July 2012. Over her tenure, she has covered major breaking news, including the death of Osama bin Laden, and interviewed newsmakers ranging from sitting presidents to Hollywood figures. In 2017, she was the one to announce on-air that co-host Matt Lauer had been dismissed from the show amid misconduct allegations, working alongside Hoda Kotb, who joined her as co-anchor in the aftermath.
In 2020, Guthrie moderated an NBC News town hall with then-President Donald Trump that drew wide attention for her persistent, detailed questioning — a performance many observers linked directly to her legal training and cross-examination instincts.
Books
Guthrie has co-written a series of children’s books centered on empowerment and confidence for young readers, including “Princesses Wear Pants” and “Princesses Save the World.”
Personal Life
Guthrie married communications consultant and former political adviser Michael Feldman in 2014. The couple have two children together, a daughter named Vale and a son named Charley. She was previously married to Mark Orchard from 2005 to 2009.
Her Mother’s Disappearance
In early February 2026, Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing after she failed to appear for a Sunday church service at her home near Tucson, Arizona — something her family said she never missed. Authorities determined the scene indicated Nancy Guthrie had likely been taken against her will, and the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Office have investigated the case as a kidnapping since.
Guthrie stepped away from “Today” and withdrew from her planned hosting duties at the 2026 Winter Olympics to be with her family during the search. She returned to the anchor desk in early April 2026, telling viewers it was “good to be home.” As of this writing, the investigation remains active and unresolved, and Guthrie has continued to make public appeals for information, including video messages posted to social media asking anyone with knowledge of her mother’s whereabouts to come forward. Authorities have offered more than $1 million in combined reward money for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s safe return.
Given the sensitivity and ongoing nature of the case, readers seeking the latest details should follow verified news outlets and official law enforcement statements rather than unverified online speculation.
Where Is Savannah Guthrie Now?
Savannah Guthrie continues to co-anchor “Today” alongside Craig Melvin, balancing her regular hosting duties with her family’s continued search for her mother.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Savannah Guthrie a lawyer? Yes, she earned a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2002 and practiced law briefly before returning to journalism full-time.
When did Savannah Guthrie become a “Today” show co-anchor? She joined “Today” in 2011 and was named a main co-anchor in July 2012, succeeding Ann Curry.
What did Savannah Guthrie do before “Today”? She was NBC News’ White House correspondent from 2008 to 2011, and before that worked as a legal correspondent for Court TV and NBC.
Is Savannah Guthrie married? Yes, she has been married to communications consultant Michael Feldman since 2014. The couple have two children.
What happened to Savannah Guthrie’s mother? Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her Tucson, Arizona, home in February 2026, and the case is being investigated by the FBI and Pima County authorities as a kidnapping. The investigation remains active.
