Savannah Guthrie

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Savannah Guthrie
Savannah Guthrie 2012 Shankbone.JPG
Guthrie at the 2012 Time 100 gala
Born (1971-12-27) December 27, 1971 (age 49)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
CitizenshipUnited States
EducationUniversity of Arizona (B.A.)
Georgetown University (J.D.)
Occupation
  • Broadcast journalist
  • author
Years active1993–present
EmployerNBC News
Known forWhite House Correspondent (2008–2011)
The Daily Rundown co-anchor (2010–11)
NBC Chief Legal Correspondent (2011–present)
Today co-anchor (2012–present)
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade host (2012–present)
Spouse(s)
Mark Orchard
​
​
(m. 2005; div. 2009)​

​
​
(m. 2014)​
Children2

Savannah Clark Guthrie (born December 27, 1971)[1] is an American broadcast journalist and attorney. She is a main co-anchor of the NBC News morning show Today, a position she has held since July 2012.[2][3]

Guthrie joined NBC News in September 2007 as a legal analyst and correspondent, regularly reporting on trials throughout the country. After serving as a White House correspondent between 2008 and 2011 and as co-anchor of the MSNBC program The Daily Rundown in 2010 and 2011,[4] Guthrie was announced as the co-host of Today's third hour alongside Natalie Morales and Al Roker.[5] In that role, she substituted as news anchor and main co-host and appeared as the chief legal analyst across all NBC platforms.[6] Guthrie ceased to be the third-hour co-host and chief legal analyst in 2012 when she replaced Ann Curry as co-anchor of Today.

Early life and education[]

Savannah Clark Guthrie, named for her great-grandmother,[7] was born in Melbourne, Australia, where her father was stationed for work. Her family returned to the United States and moved to Tucson, Arizona two years later.[7] The first time Guthrie returned to Australia was in 2015 while working for Today, which she described as a "lifelong dream" of hers. She made the trip with her mother, Nancy, visiting her birth place at the Maternity Ward of Sandringham Hospital in Sandringham, Victoria, an affluent beachside town located 16km (10mi) south east of Melbourne's central business district. They then visited the families former home in nearby Beaumaris. Guthrie also spent some time in Sydney before returning to the United States. [8]

She graduated from Amphitheater High School in Tucson.[7][9]

Guthrie received a B.A. in journalism from the University of Arizona, graduating cum laude in 1993. She was a member of the Arizona Alpha chapter of Pi Beta Phi.[10]

Guthrie received a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center,[11] where she graduated magna cum laude in 2002.

Career[]

Her first job in broadcasting was at ABC affiliate KMIZ, in Columbia, Missouri, where she worked for two years before returning to Tucson and a job with NBC affiliate KVOA in 1995. After five years in Arizona, she took a job at WRC-TV, Washington, D.C. where she covered major stories including the September 11, 2001, attack on The Pentagon and the 2001 anthrax attacks.[7]

After working several years as a broadcast journalist, Guthrie chose to resume her higher education, receiving a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2002. She is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia and Arizona, having scored first place on the Arizona Bar Exam. She also was a member of Order of the Coif and received the International Academy of Trial Lawyers' Student Advocacy award for her work with victims of domestic violence.

She worked for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where she served as a litigation associate, specializing in white-collar criminal defense. In 2004, she became a national trial correspondent for CourtTV. She covered high-profile legal proceedings including the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, the abduction and murder trial of Carlie Brucia, the Martha Stewart case, and the Michael Jackson trial.

NBC News (2007–present)[]

Guthrie became a correspondent for NBC News in September 2007.[12] She covered Sarah Palin's 2008 vice-presidential race from Fairbanks, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Sioux City, Iowa, and Washington. On December 18, she was named a White House correspondent for NBC News. In this capacity, she contributed to all NBC News properties.[13] Guthrie is also an NBC News anchor and substitute anchor on NBC Nightly News.

On October 14, 2020, Guthrie served as moderator for the town hall scheduled by President Trump after he caught COVID-19 and refused to participate in a virtual presidential debate that was postponed for safety reasons. When Joe Biden scheduled a solo town hall debate, Trump and NBC scheduled one at the same date and time as Biden's debate.

The Today Show (2011–present)[]

Guthrie interviews Barack Obama in the White House kitchen for a Super Bowl XLIX pre-game show
Guthrie interviews U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter in March 2015.

After Guthrie substituted for both Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry on Today, it was confirmed on May 9, 2011 that she would become co-host of the 9 a.m. hour alongside Natalie Morales and Al Roker, and the show's Chief Legal Editor. The move came after Vieira announced her departure from the show as co-host of the main program, and the subsequent promotions of Curry and Morales to main co-host and news anchor, respectively. Guthrie departed The Daily Rundown for Today on June 9, 2011,[14] at which time she was appointed NBC News chief legal analyst, making her first appearance in this role on May 25, 2011.[6] On June 29, 2012, it was announced that Guthrie would co-anchor Today, replacing Curry. Her first day as co-anchor alongside Matt Lauer was on July 9, 2012.[15]

In 2011, she conducted an interview with Donald Trump in which he discussed his role in the Barack Obama "birther" controversy.[16] Later that year, she interviewed Conrad Murray after he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.[17] She reported exclusive details on the death of Osama bin Laden.[16] On November 29, 2017, Guthrie succeeded Matt Lauer as host alongside Hoda Kotb.[citation needed]

Since 2012, she has hosted the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade[18] on NBC and the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting.[19]

In 2020, she conducted another interview with then President Donald Trump during his re-election campaign in the 2020 election amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Guthrie pressed him on issues of his debts, response to coronavirus and refusal to outright condemn the right wing conspiracy theory of QAnon. Critics said that this encounter with a journalist marked the first time Trump was not allowed to dominate and make claims unchallenged during the 2020 election campaign unlike his interviews with more conservative outlets like Fox News.[20]

Guthrie was included in Time's list of 100 most influential people of 2018.[21]

Other work[]

Guthrie appeared as herself in the 2013 series finale of the NBC sitcom 30 Rock and the 2015 film Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!.[22]

In 2018, she played alongside compatriot Jack Sock in an exhibition tennis match against Swiss Roger Federer and American Bill Gates. Savannah and Jack suffered a loss, the final score being 3–6.[23]

Guthrie is the author of two children's books: Princesses wear Pants and Princesses Save the World.[24]

In February 2021, Guthrie was announced to be an interim guest host of Jeopardy! following the death of host Alex Trebek. Her episodes aired June 14-25, 2021.[25]

Personal life[]

In December 2005, Guthrie married English-born BBC News presenter Mark Orchard, whom she met while covering the Michael Jackson trial. The couple divorced in 2009.

In late 2009, she began a relationship with Democratic political and communications consultant Michael Feldman[7] while vacationing on Turks and Caicos. In 2013, they became engaged. They married on March 15, 2014 in Tucson, Arizona. Two days later, Guthrie announced she was four months pregnant.[26]

Guthrie gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Vale Guthrie Feldman, on August 13, 2014.[27] On June 7, 2016, Guthrie announced she and her husband were expecting their second child.[28] She gave birth to their son, Charles Max Feldman, on December 8, 2016.[29]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Savannah Guthrie". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  2. ^ "UA Journalism graduate Savannah Guthrie named "Today Show" co-host". Journalism.arizona.edu. June 29, 2012.
  3. ^ "Alumnae Norah O'Donnell and Savannah Guthrie rule the airwaves". www.georgetown.edu. December 6, 2012.
  4. ^ "Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor". www.today.com. June 4, 2013.
  5. ^ "Savannah Guthrie – Co-Anchor of TODAY and NBC News Chief Legal Correspondent". Today.com. NBCUniversal Media. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Martel, Francis (May 25, 2011). "Today Names Savannah Guthrie New Chief Legal Analyst". Mediaite.com. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Abramovitch, Seth (June 26, 2012). "Savannah Guthrie: 10 Things to Know About Ann Curry's Replacement". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  8. ^ https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/today-america-host-savannah-guthrie-filming-for-the-show-from-australia-fulfilling-her-dream/news-story/220c3db13edec38719f2939add575033
  9. ^ "Savannah Guthrie". Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks). Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  10. ^ "Pi Beta Phi Fraternity For Women". www.pibetaphi.org.
  11. ^ "Alumnae Norah O'Donnell and Savannah Guthrie Rule the Airwaves". Georgetown University. December 6, 2012.
  12. ^ "Savannah Guthrie named Co-anchor of NBC's "Today"". Adweek. June 29, 2012.
  13. ^ Quinn, Katie (September 14, 2011). "Savannah answers viewer questions, reveals her bucket list". Today.
  14. ^ Ariens, Chris (June 3, 2011). "Savannah Guthrie's Final MSNBC show simulcast on NBC". MediaBistro.com. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  15. ^ Oldenburg, Ann (June 29, 2012). "Savannah Guthrie takes 'Today' co-anchor seat". USA Today. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b "Savannah Guthrie". Today.com. NBC Universal. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  17. ^ "Behind the Interview: Savannah's sit-down with Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray while he awaited his courtroom fate". Today.com. NBC Universal. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  18. ^ Ungerman, Alex. "Inside Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer's 'Today' Show Relationship". Yahoo.com. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  19. ^ "'CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER' 2012 TO FEATURE STAR-STUDDED GUESTS & SANDY-SURVIVING TREE!". theboot.com. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  20. ^ "Moderator Savannah Guthrie hailed for keeping Trump in check at town hall". The Guardian. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  21. ^ "Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb: TIME's 100 Most Influential People". Time. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  22. ^ Putnam, Lindsay (July 23, 2015). "The 10 best celebrity deaths in 'Sharknado 3'". nypost.com. NYP Holdings, Inc. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  23. ^ Stump, Scott. "Savannah Guthrie played tennis against Roger Federer and everybody won". Today.com. NBC Universal. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  24. ^ Kim, Eun Kyung. "Savannah Guthrie has a new book! Check out 'Princesses Save the World'". today.com.
  25. ^ GOEL, VRITTI RASHI. "Savannah Guthrie, Anderson Cooper and Dr. Oz among new guest hosts of "Jeopardy!"". www.cbsnews.com.
  26. ^ "Savannah Guthrie pregnant with first baby, she revealed at weekend wedding". Today. March 17, 2014.
  27. ^ "It's a girl! Savannah Guthrie gives birth to baby Vale". Today. August 14, 2014. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015.
  28. ^ "Pregnant 'Today' anchor Savannah Guthrie will skip Olympics in Rio because of Zika concerns". Los Angeles Times. June 7, 2016.
  29. ^ "Savannah Guthrie Welcomes Son Charles Max Feldman", People, December 9, 2016

External links[]

Media offices
Preceded by
Ann Curry 		Today co-host
2012–2020
with Matt Lauer 2012–2017
and Hoda Kotb from 2017 to present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
Retrieved from ""