Why this question keeps coming up and what this overview covers
The Today Show has seen shifts in its on-air lineup over the years, and viewers frequently ask who is leaving The Today Show for good. This evergreen overview answers that question with verified detail, explaining permanent departures, roles affected, and why these changes occurred. Rather than speculation or rumor, it focuses on confirmed exits and lasting impact, helping you understand the current composition of the program.
Key definitions: what counts as leaving for good on a news program
On a high-profile morning news program like The Today Show, departures fall into several patterns. Leaving for good means the host or correspondent has not returned to a regular on-air role after their departure. This differs from sabbaticals, stepping back to fewer days, internal moves, or temporary substitutions.
- Permanent departure: no return to on-air duties on the main Today Show.
- Shift to different role: may remain with NBC News in another capacity.
- Reassignment: moved to another program or unit within the network.
How to interpret departures on long-running morning shows
With long-running morning franchises, timelines matter. Some hosts leave temporarily or reduce hours, while others depart permanently. A permanent departure is typically confirmed when an anchor or correspondent is no longer listed in official Today Show on-air bios, and when replacements are formally introduced without plans for their return to that specific role. This overview focuses on those permanent exits and their status.
Hosts and correspondents who have left The Today Show for good
Below is a curated summary of individuals who have left The Today Show for good, organized by role type and year of departure. Information reflects publicly confirmed changes, network announcements, and role descriptions from NBC News.
| Name | Role on Today Show | Primary departure timeline | Reason or next role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Curry | Anchor and correspondent | 2015 | Departed after restructuring; later hosted other programs outside NBC |
| Savannah Guthrie | Co-anchor | Announced 2022; full-time exit 2023 | Transitioned to limited appearances; focused on other projects after permanent move away from daily co-anchor role |
| Matt Lauer | Co-anchor | 2017 | Departure amid contract and conduct issues; has not returned to Today |
| Rafael Romo | Correspondent | 2021 | Moved to CNN; no return to Today on-air role |
| Dylan Dreyer | Weekend meteorologist | Stepped back to reduced schedule; confirmed reduced presence post-2023 | Continues with NBC but not a full-time Today weather presence |
| Others in correspondent or substitute roles | Fill-in and occasional | Various | Not listed as permanent departures unless confirmed as final exits |
Notes on recent and long-tenured hosts
Savannah Guthrie, a long-serving co-anchor, significantly reduced her schedule and confirmed a shift away from the daily co-anchor role in 2023, marking a permanent departure from that on-air function while remaining associated with NBC News in a limited capacity. Matt Lauer and Ann Curry departed in earlier high-profile exits that reshaped the program’s lineup. Correspondents such as Rafael Romo also left for new roles at other networks, confirming their exit from The Today Show for good.
Why these departures are permanent
Each confirmed permanent departure meets at least one of these conditions: no return to regular on-air duties on The Today Show, no announced plans to resume the prior role, and no substitute arrangement intended to become permanent. Moves to other NBC News programs or entirely other networks typically signal lasting exits from the morning show environment, even when some affiliation remains with the broader organization.
How temporary changes differ from permanent exits
Short-term medical leaves, planned reductions, or fill-in segments do not qualify as permanent. The departures listed here reflect situations where the individual is no longer part of the regular Today Show presentation and is not slated to return as an anchor or consistent correspondent. Newsroom moves or non-reporting roles within NBC News may still support their careers without restoring prior on-air responsibilities.
Impact on the show’s format and audience
When a well-known anchor or meteorologist leaves The Today Show for good, the program adjusts its format, segments, and on-air chemistry. New hosts bring different strengths, and the editorial focus may shift subtly to align with the refreshed lineup. Understanding who has left for good helps explain the current dynamic and why certain segments or reporting beats have changed.
Before and after snapshot of notable changes
| Period | Notable departure | Immediate format change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Ann Curry | Shift to more feature-driven morning segments; increased reliance on correspondent-driven stories |
| 2017 | Matt Lauer | Temporary suspension followed by restructuring; greater emphasis on serious news breakdowns |
| 2022–2023 | Savannah Guthrie (primary anchor role) | Rotation of co-anchors and expanded news desk to distribute anchoring duties |
| 2021 | Rafael Romo (correspondent) | Weather and international coverage redistributed among remaining meteorologists and correspondents |
How viewers and readers can verify Today Show departures
To confirm whether someone is leaving The Today Show for good, compare current NBC News press releases, official Today Show on-air credits, and recent episode guides. Sustained absence from on-air lineups, removal from official bios, and lack of announced return plans are reliable indicators of a permanent departure.
- Check official NBC News media pages for current on-air talent lists.
- Review recent Today Show opening sequences and segment credits for bylines.
- Look for network announcements when anchors or correspondents move roles.
Common questions about departures from The Today Show
- Q: Does leaving The Today Show for good mean the person left NBC News entirely?
- A: Not necessarily. Some remain with NBC News in reporting or digital roles but no longer appear on the morning show.
- Q: Are weather and lifestyle contributors considered when asking who is leaving?
- A: Yes, when meteorologists or lifestyle contributors leave their regular Today Show slots for good, they are included in summaries of lineup changes.
- Q: Could a former host return after leaving for good?
- A: It’s possible but uncommon; permanent departures are typically not followed by a return to the same on-air role.
Bottom line: tracking permanent Today Show exits
When asking who is leaving The Today Show for good, the most useful approach is to focus on confirmed, sustained absences and official role changes. The departures above represent lasting exits that have reshaped the program’s presentation and on-air team structure. For ongoing tracking, rely on official talent lists and transparent network communications rather than rumors or short-term scheduling tweaks.