Savannah Guthrie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Savannah Guthrie
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Guthrie in 2022
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Savannah Clark Guthrie
December 27, 1971 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | University of Arizona (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
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| Years active | 1993–present |
| Employer | NBC News |
| Known for | White House Correspondent (2008–2011) The Daily Rundown co-anchor (2010–2011) NBC Chief Legal Correspondent (2011–present) Today co-anchor (2012–present) Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade co-host (2012–present) |
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| Children | 2 |
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Savannah Clark Guthrie (born December 27, 1971) is an American journalist and lawyer. She is best known as a main co-anchor of the popular NBC News morning show Today. She has held this important role since July 2012.
Savannah joined NBC News in September 2007. She first worked as a legal expert and reporter, covering trials across the country. From 2008 to 2011, she was a White House correspondent, reporting on news from the President's home. She also co-anchored a show called The Daily Rundown on MSNBC. In 2011, she became a co-host for the third hour of Today. She also filled in as a news anchor and main co-host. In 2012, she became the main co-anchor of Today. In early 2026, Savannah's mother, Nancy Guthrie, went missing. Savannah took a break from her work at NBC, including her plans to co-host the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremonies, to help with the search for her mother.
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Savannah Guthrie's Early Life and Education
Savannah Clark Guthrie was born on December 27, 1971, in Melbourne, Australia. She was named after her great-grandmother. Her father, Charles, was a mining engineer, and his work brought the family to Australia. They lived in a suburb called Beaumaris. When Savannah was two years old, her family moved back to the United States. They settled in Tucson, Arizona. Savannah did not visit Australia again until 2015. She described this trip, which she took while working for Today, as a "lifelong dream." During her visit, Savannah and her mother, Nancy, explored Sydney and Melbourne. They even visited the hospital where Savannah was born and the house where they used to live.
After finishing high school in Tucson, Savannah went to the University of Arizona. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism in 1993, graduating with honors. Later, she studied law at Georgetown University Law Center. She earned her law degree in 2002, also graduating with high honors. She even achieved the highest score on the Arizona Bar exam the year she took it.
Savannah Guthrie's Journalism Career
Savannah's first job in television was at a local NBC station in Butte, Montana, in 1993. After a short time there, she worked at an ABC station in Columbia, Missouri, for two years. In 1995, she returned to Tucson to work for the NBC station KVOA. After five years in Arizona, she moved to Washington, D.C., to work for WRC-TV, an NBC station. There, she covered important events like the September 11 attack on the Pentagon and the 2001 anthrax attacks.
After working as a journalist for several years, Savannah decided to go back to school. She earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2002. She is allowed to practice law in the District of Columbia and Arizona. She also received an award for her work helping victims of domestic violence.
Savannah worked for a law firm, focusing on cases involving financial crimes. She was offered a job as a clerk for a U.S. District Court judge but chose to continue her career in journalism instead. In 2004, she became a national reporter for CourtTV. She covered important legal cases, including the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings for a U.S. Supreme Court nominee.
Working at NBC News
Savannah joined NBC News as a correspondent in September 2007. She reported on important political events, including Sarah Palin's 2008 vice-presidential campaign. On December 18, she became a White House correspondent for NBC News. This meant she reported on news directly from the White House for all NBC News programs. She also filled in as an anchor on NBC Nightly News.
Co-Anchoring The Today Show
Savannah often filled in for other anchors on Today. In May 2011, it was announced that she would become a co-host of the 9 a.m. hour of Today. She also became the show's Chief Legal Editor. She left The Daily Rundown to join Today full-time in June 2011. On June 29, 2012, it was announced that Savannah would become a main co-anchor of Today. Her first day in this role was July 9, 2012.
In 2011, she conducted an interview with Donald Trump about his views on important topics. Later that year, she interviewed Conrad Murray after his trial related to the death of Michael Jackson. She also reported exclusive details about the death of Osama bin Laden.
Since 2012, Savannah has hosted the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC. She also hosts the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony. In November 2017, Hoda Kotb joined Savannah as a co-host on Today. Savannah was recognized in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in 2018.
In 2020, she interviewed then-President Trump again during his re-election campaign. She asked him about important issues facing the country, including the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Other Projects and Appearances
Savannah has appeared on television shows and movies as herself. She was in the 2013 finale of the sitcom 30 Rock and the 2015 film Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!. In 2018, Savannah took part in a charity tennis event called Match for Africa. She played with professional tennis player Jack Sock against Bill Gates and tennis legend Roger Federer.
Savannah has also written books for children. These include Princesses Wear Pants and Princesses Save the World. She also wrote a religious book called Mostly What God Does: Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere. In February 2021, she was a guest host for the popular quiz show Jeopardy! after the passing of its long-time host, Alex Trebek. Her episodes aired in June 2021. Savannah and Hoda Kotb also appeared in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Savannah Guthrie's Personal Life
Family Life
In December 2005, Savannah married Mark Orchard, a BBC News presenter. They later divorced in January 2009. Later that year, she met Michael Feldman, a political consultant, while on vacation. They got engaged in 2013 and married on March 15, 2014, in Tucson, Arizona. Soon after, Savannah announced she was expecting a baby. Their daughter, Vale, was born in August 2014. In June 2016, Savannah announced they were expecting another child. Their son, Charles, was born in 2016. He was named after Savannah's father. Savannah shared that they had help to have their son.
Health Update
In January 2026, Savannah had surgery on her vocal cords to remove some small growths. She took a short break from the Today show to recover and returned later that month.
Awards and achievements
Savannah has achieved a lot in her career:
- She got the highest score on the Arizona Bar exam when she took it, which is a big achievement for lawyers!
- Savannah worked as a White House correspondent, reporting on important news from the President's home.
- She has interviewed many important people, including presidents, and is known for asking thoughtful questions.
- In 2012, she became a main co-anchor of the Today show, which is a very important job!
- Savannah hosted fun events like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting.
- In 2018, she was recognized as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people.
See also
- New Yorkers in journalism