A Plaza Surprise for the Anchor

Savannah Guthrie has been a familiar face on Today for more than a decade, but even longtime fans might not recognize her early career look. The 53-year-old anchor was caught off guard on Wednesday, Sept. 3, when a viewer on the Today Show Plaza held up a throwback photo from her 1990s reporting days.

The fan, identified as Carol, brought a poster featuring Guthrie during her time at KVOA-TV in Tucson, Arizona, where she covered the Olympics, sporting a short, jet-black bob. The sign read, “Watching you since then.”

Guthrie laughed when she saw the image, jokingly covering it up as she quipped, “Oh my gosh, hi, well welcome, and I think we don’t need to see that.”

Hair Experiments Through the Years

When co-host Dylan Dreyer asked whether she’d ever want to revive one of her past styles, Guthrie didn’t hesitate: “No, mostly it’s like, ‘Never try that again.’ Mostly it’s like, ‘What was I thinking?!’”

The anchor also admitted to a more recent hair regret—the bold auburn hue she debuted in 2013. “I don’t know why I thought I needed to dye my hair red that one time,” she recalled. “I just went out one day and dyed it red, came in the next day, and all the bosses were like, ‘Oh, looks good.’”

Her colleagues couldn’t resist adding to the fun. Al Roker teased Guthrie about the photo, saying, “That’s crazy how you used to dye your hair black!” Guthrie quickly corrected him with a laugh: “No, that’s my natural hair color. Let’s change the subject.”

The ‘Rachel’ Connection

Guthrie explained that her bobbed look was a nod to one of the most iconic haircuts of the 1990s—Jennifer Aniston’s layered “Rachel” style from Friends.

“It was very ‘90s, I think I tried to have ‘the Rachel,’” she said, poking fun at the fashion choices of her younger self. “Thanks for coming, now we can burn that [photo].”

Looking Back with Humor

This isn’t the first time Guthrie has reminisced about her evolving hairstyles. In 2021, she reflected on her many looks while marking her 10-year anniversary with Today. From dark bobs to blonde highlights and everything in between, Guthrie has embraced the changes—though, as Wednesday’s surprise showed, not without a little embarrassment.

Her candid reaction reminded viewers why she remains one of morning TV’s most relatable figures: she’s willing to laugh at herself, even when the past comes back—on a giant poster board.