(Drew Angerer\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nYes, Savannah announced during the July 16 broadcast that she\u2019ll be stepping away from the anchor desk for the next several weeks \u2014 but fans don\u2019t need to worry. This isn\u2019t another unexpected absence.<\/p>\n
Instead, Guthrie is taking time away for an exciting new career opportunity.<\/p>\n
During the show\u2019s \u201cPopStart\u201d segment, Carson Daly reminded viewers that NBC is bringing the wildly popular Wordle word game to television, with Guthrie serving as host.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019ve got some news about Wordle,\u201d Daly said before turning things over to his colleague.<\/p>\n
Guthrie then revealed exactly why she\u2019ll be disappearing from viewers\u2019 morning routines.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re about to do it,\u201d she said. \u201cGuys, I\u2019m headed over to shoot Wordle<\/em>. Over the next few weeks, we\u2019re gonna shoot the whole season, and we\u2019re super excited. Cannot wait for everyone to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n\nShe added that the series is expected to premiere sometime in the new year.<\/p>\n
Guthrie\u2019s announcement was met with enthusiastic reactions from her fellow anchors.<\/p>\n
Sheinelle Jones recalled how obsessed the Today<\/em> team became when Wordle first exploded in popularity.<\/p>\n\u201cI just remember when Wordle hit the Today show group, and we became obsessed,\u201d Jones said. \u201cWe were texting each other. And so, now to bring it full circle and have you doing this is pretty awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n
Craig Melvin called Guthrie the \u201cperfect host\u201d for the new series, while Jenna Bush Hager admitted the team will miss having her around while she\u2019s away filming.<\/p>\n
\nThe Wordle<\/em> hosting gig has been in the works for months.<\/p>\nNBC first announced earlier this year that Guthrie would front the game show, which is executive produced by Jimmy Fallon. <\/p>\n
Production was originally expected to begin months ago but was delayed as Guthrie dealt with the disappearance of her mother.<\/p>\n
Now, filming is finally getting underway, giving Guthrie a chance to focus on a project she has repeatedly described as joyful.<\/p>\n
For Today<\/em> fans, the good news is that this isn\u2019t a permanent goodbye.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s simply a temporary break while she films an entire season of Wordle<\/em> before returning to NBC\u2019s morning lineup.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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