The meaning behind Savannah Guthrie’s yellow dress for her emotional ‘Today’ show return

Savannah Guthrie is back on the “Today” show.

After more than two months spent off the air amid a nationwide search for her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, Savannah returned to Rockefeller Plaza’s Studio 1A Monday morning, clad in a short-sleeved yellow lace Elie Tahari dress accessorized with a yellow heart pendant.

The bold, bright color has become a symbol of support and hope since Nancy’s disappearance on Feb. 1, with Arizona residents leaving yellow flowers and ribbons around her neighborhood in the following days.

Savannah Guthrie wearing a yellow lace dress on the set of the Today show.
Savannah Guthrie returned to the “Today” show Monday in a yellow lace dress by Elie Tahari.Elder Ordonez/INSTARimages
Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin on the Today Show set.
She was joined at the anchor desk by Craig Melvin, who wore a yellow tie and matching enamel ribbon pin.NBC
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Savannah Guthrie in a yellow lace dress and beige platform heels.
Yellow has become a symbol of hope amid the search for Savannah’s mother, Nancy.Elder Ordonez/INSTARimages
Savannah Guthrie is embraced by a colleague as she appears emotional before stepping onto the "Today" show plaza.
It was an emotional return to the show for Savannah, who has been gone for 65 days.Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post

“The yellow ribbon is a sentiment of hope and support after someone goes missing,” one of Nancy’s neighbors told People in February.

The symbol dates back to 1979, according to the National Museum of American Diplomacy, when 52 US diplomats were held as hostages in Iran; inspired by the song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree,” one of the diplomat’s wives urged the public to display yellow ribbons as a show of support.

On February 18, Hoda Kotb — who filled in for Savannah during her absence — adopted the sentiment for the NBC family.

“We got a suggestion from one of our viewers and we’re doing the same thing,” she said. “We have yellow rouses around Studio 1A and we’re all wearing ribbons as we send our love to Savannah and her family.”

Savannah Guthrie with Nancy Guthrie.
The “Today” family has embraced the color yellow in the weeks since Nancy’s disappearance.NBC
Savannah Guthrie and Nancy Guthrie posing together.
Nancy went missing on the night of January 31, 2025 and has yet to be rescued.Instagram/savannahguthrie
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“It is good to be home,” Savannah began her broadcast Monday morning. “Here we go. Ready or not, let’s do the news.”

Seated next to her, Craig Melvin wore a yellow necktie, pocket square and enamel ribbon pin to match, and the studio was decorated with yellow flowers.

“Welcome home, Savannah. 💛” read the caption on the “Today” show’s Instagram post.