“Today” host Savannah Guthrie announced this morning that she’s taking on a new role, despite the investigation surrounding the disappearance of her mom, Nancy, continuing to turn up no new leads.
During this morning’s “Today” broadcast, Guthrie told viewers she will be the host of a new “Wordle” game show, alongside Jimmy Fallon, the project’s executive producer.
NBC has given a series order to a TV adaptation of the New York Times game “Wordle” hosted by “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie and executive produced by Jimmy Fallon.
The game show will premiere sometime in 2027.https://t.co/cwsuzQGGO8
— Variety (@Variety) May 11, 2026
“We’ve been holding in a secret between us for a long time now,” Guthrie said.
Fallon added, “I’m so happy it’s you — we were looking for the perfect host for this. We needed someone who looks like they play Wordle, someone who knows how to run a show.
“We did the pilot, and you were amazing,” the “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” host continued, referring to Guthrie, who guest-hosted “Jeopardy!” for two weeks in 2021.
The game show, based on the New York Times’ popular puzzle of the same name, will begin filming this summer.
News initially broke in October 2025 that “Wordle” was in development, with Guthrie set to host.
However, since the January disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, production and news surrounding the show were put on hold.
“When everything happened with me and my family,” Savannah explained on Monday, “they just stopped everything and said, ‘We’ll wait for you.’ Hollywood is, like, a really tough business, and I didn’t expect that. And I just want to say thank you, it means so much to me.”
Fallon told viewers that the show’s cast and crew “couldn’t do the show” without the “fantastic” host.
Savannah went on to share mixed feelings about the “joyous” news.
“Everything is strange right now,” she said.
“It’s strange to get up and do the ‘Today’ show every day, and it’s strange to say that I’m going to do a game show when your heart is broken. Nothing about that has changed, and it’s not easy, but I’m determined to put one foot in front of the other.”
Savannah Guthrie stepped away from television after her mother, Nancy, was last seen at her Arizona home in January.
She acknowledged in a heartbreaking February video that Nancy “may already be lost,” noting, “If this is what is to be, then we will accept it, but we need to know where she is.”
She returned to the “Today” desk in April with open arms.
“Well, ready or not, here we go!” the Daytime Emmy winner told viewers in April.
”Let’s do the news.”
She wore a yellow dress at the time, with the color symbolizing hope, remembrance, and support for Nancy’s return.
Guthrie also posted a touching Mother’s Day tribute to Nancy on her social media over the weekend, writing, “We miss you with every breath. We will never stop looking for you. We will never be at peace until we find you.”
Savannah Guthrie posted a heartfelt Mother’s Day tribute to her mom, Nancy, who has been missing since February:
“Mother, daughter, sister, Nonie – we miss you with every breath. We will never stop looking for you. We will never be at peace until we find you. We need help.… pic.twitter.com/5ZfStk5RMG
— Variety (@Variety) May 10, 2026