Savannah Guthrie Debuts “New Voice” After Vocal Cord Surgery

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Savannah Guthrie is breaking her silence—literally.

The co-host of Today shared an update on her recovery from vocal cord surgery, saying her voice is slowly getting back to normal.

Speaking from a video call on NBC’s morning show on January 20th, she explained that she’s still recovering her voice after surgery. She’s limited to talking for five to ten minutes each hour, but shared, “This is my new voice—it’s familiar, but new—and the surgery was a success!”

Savannah, who shared in December that she was taking a break from the show, seems to be recovering well, but she says she still needs to take it easy and avoid pushing herself too hard.

She said I could speak, but warned that if I talked for too long—something she worries about—she would start to feel unwell, so I needed to be careful and not overdo it.

Oh my gosh, she’s coming back! I nearly screamed when I heard she plans to be back at Studio 1A on January 26th! But even before that, she’s going to be on TV on January 23rd to talk about everything she’s been through. It’s just… amazing. And she said the sweetest thing – she thanked all of us for the incredible support, and it really hit me when she said all the messages showed her just how many people are going through the same thing. It’s so good to know we’re all in this together, and she’s so brave for sharing! I’m counting down the days!

She said it’s a surprisingly common experience. Many people, especially those who talk a lot for their jobs – like teachers – have told her they’ve gone through the same thing.

Savannah, 54, previously detailed how her situation had begun to affect her on-air work.

I was really worried when I started noticing a change in her voice – it was getting really scratchy and even cracking sometimes. She finally shared what was going on, and it turns out she has vocal nodules and a polyp. It explains so much, and I’m hoping she gets the care she needs to feel better soon!

Savannah said she was “really excited” that doctors had finally discovered the cause of a health problem she’d been dealing with for years, even though it meant she needed surgery.

Savannah is one of many celebrities who have openly discussed their health challenges. Here’s a look at other stars who’ve been honest about their illnesses.

Former Total Bellas star revealed that one of her breast implants moved after being hit in the chest by Piper Niven during a wrestling match in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, that they would get the issue resolved eventually. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she finished her current commitment – implying retirement – she would return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best. She wanted to be sure things were presentable for future use, stating, ‘These girls are going to get some action in the future and that can’t look like that.’

Oh my gosh, did you know Lupita Nyong’o actually battled uterine fibroids – those non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus – way back in 2014? It’s just… incredible to me that she was dealing with that while winning her Oscar for 12 Years a Slave! She’s such a queen, handling everything with such grace, even while going through something like that. It just makes me admire her even more!

Looking back, it’s amazing to me how long some of us keep things hidden. It wasn’t until 2025 that I finally felt ready to share my diagnosis with the world, and even then, I described feeling like I’d been quietly struggling with it for over ten years. It just goes to show how powerful it can be to finally break that silence.

She explained that many girls are taught to accept period pain as a normal part of being a woman. This often leaves them dealing with a common issue in silence and feeling isolated.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she’d been hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she’d been wearing pants that were too tight, which caused a gap in her abdominal muscles.

Someone messaged Suki on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, asking why she hadn’t posted recently. The message jokingly revealed a surprising reason for her silence: she claimed an old pair of tight pants caused a hernia six months ago, and she’s been afraid to mention it.

In April 2025, the former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared that he was recovering from surgery to repair a nearly ruptured appendix.

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain, which led him to the emergency room. He discovered he had a perforated appendix – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to it.

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

During a soccer game against Seattle Reign on September 14th at Lumen Field in Seattle, a midfielder from Racing Louisville collapsed after only a few minutes of play.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player sat down on the field with a teammate supporting her, and then quickly collapsed. Trainers were called to assess her condition.

After receiving initial treatment from medical staff at the game, Savannah was taken to a nearby hospital for more tests. League officials reported she was in stable condition and fully conscious.

Adam Devine revealed that injuries from a childhood accident – he was hit by a cement truck at age 11 – continue to cause him problems now.

In a 2025 interview on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast, Devine described the last year as “a nightmare.” He explained that he’s been experiencing spasms all over his body and that doctors had even told him he was facing a life-threatening situation.

He acknowledged that his pain is intermittent, explaining that he has some physical imperfections and things aren’t quite right with his body.

A former contestant on The Bachelor went to the hospital because of severe back pain. He said he was in so much pain he could barely move and had to crawl on his hands and knees, and the pain got worse during a road trip with a friend.

Okay, so I was listening to his Trading Secrets podcast from March 2025, and he was talking about his leg! He said even now, like, bringing his knees to his chest still feels tingly, which is insane! He put it in perspective – he was squatting almost 300 pounds just a few weeks ago, maybe a month, and now? He literally can’t even do a squat, can’t balance on one leg without falling. He said it felt like he’d had a stroke, it was so bad! I’m seriously worried about him, but also, the fact he was lifting that much weight is just… amazing.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

Gina Kirschenheiter, from The Real Housewives of Orange County, revealed that her ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, had a heart attack in March 2025, but he is now doing okay.

In March 2025, the actor from 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be taken out of Madison Square Garden in a wheelchair.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain that he hadn’t been feeling well due to food poisoning, but was now recovering.

In February 2025, the former Even Stevens star revealed she was shot in the face during a birthday celebration for her husband, Brendan Rooney. They were on a clay pigeon shooting trip when the incident occurred.

In an Instagram post, she explained that she was accidentally shot in the face by someone at a party who fired a weapon unsafely. Thankfully, @thebrendanrooney quickly helped, checked her over, and drove her to the hospital. She was hit five times, and one bullet narrowly missed her right eye, coming within an inch of a direct hit.

The Kim Possible actor explained that a small piece of something got stuck behind their eye. Doctors have advised against removing it with surgery right now, but they’re keeping a close watch on the situation. Thankfully, their vision is currently normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for being alive. She shared how much she loves her daughters, husband, family, and friends, explaining that experiencing a near-death moment made her realize how quickly life can change. She urged everyone to cherish their loved ones and hug them whenever possible.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, despite its often harsh nature, because it helped her discover a health issue. After noticing she looked “puffier,” Schumer recalled being criticized online. Surprisingly, doctors began commenting, expressing concern that she might have Cushing syndrome, a condition potentially caused by high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This prompted Schumer to realize she’d received steroid injections after a breast reduction and C-section. She later learned she had a form of Cushing syndrome that would resolve on its own, which she called “the greatest news imaginable.” Schumer shared this update in a February 2024 newsletter, relieved to be healthy.

As a huge hockey fan and especially a follower of the Fitzgerald family, I was really shaken up when I heard about what happened to Tom Fitzgerald’s son back in December 2024. He suffered a bad cut from a skate during a game and needed 25 stitches! Thankfully, he made a full recovery, but his dad, Tom, shared with ESPN how incredibly relieved they were. He said, and it really stuck with me, ‘We’re very lucky. I don’t wish that on any parent.’ It was a scary situation, and I’m so glad to hear he’s okay.

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly developed stroke-like symptoms, initially unable to respond when Justin asked if she was alright. She then found she couldn’t speak and the right side of her face began to droop.

Although her speech and facial movement eventually returned, Hailey went to the hospital where doctors discovered she’d had a small blood clot travel to her brain, which they diagnosed as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack).

Further testing at UCLA revealed Hailey had a hole in her heart called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Doctors determined the blood clot had passed through this hole and traveled to her brain, causing the TIA.

Hailey successfully underwent a procedure to close the PFO and is now doing well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. This forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained that the virus affected nerves in his ear and face, preventing him from blinking, smiling, or moving his nostril on the affected side. He also shared that it had become increasingly difficult to eat.

Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away. Hailey later appeared on Good Morning America and said Justin was recovering well, adding that while the situation was frightening and unexpected, he was going to be okay and she was grateful he was fine.

Jamie Foxx recently shared details about the serious health scare he experienced in April 2023, which he had initially kept private. In his 2024 Netflix special, What Had Happened Was…, Foxx explained that he suffered from a severe headache one day while in Atlanta. He asked for aspirin, but lost consciousness before he could take it, and doesn’t remember the next twenty days.

He initially saw a doctor who gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, became concerned and took him to the hospital. There, doctors discovered he had a brain bleed which led to a stroke.

Twenty days after surgery, Foxx woke up on May 4th unable to walk and needing a wheelchair. He then traveled to Chicago for rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed deep gratitude for the prayers he received, saying, “I needed every prayer.”

The reality TV star said she temporarily stopped breathing while running a mile during the first challenge on the NBC show.

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling as though she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather before everything went dark. After that, she saw light, which led her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where your body essentially starts to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. While filming the series, she experienced a severe headache while at the gym, followed by intense pain and vomiting. She quickly realized something was seriously wrong, suspecting brain damage.

A hospital scan revealed she had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a life-threatening stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm. She underwent immediate surgery to repair it, describing the pain as unbearable. During her recovery, she experienced aphasia, leaving her unable to speak coherently.

Though the aphasia eventually passed and she was discharged after a month, a 2013 scan revealed the aneurysm had doubled in size, requiring a second surgery. This procedure initially failed, leading to a massive bleed and a precarious situation. Doctors had to perform a more invasive surgery, accessing her brain directly through her skull.

Fortunately, Emilia Clarke is now fully recovered and says she’s “at a hundred per cent.”

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, is thankful for the support of her family. In January 2024, she experienced a severe stroke, and her loved ones immediately came to her side. She told TopMob News’ Will Marfuggi in December 2024 that “everybody just came to my rescue.”

Cori ended up staying in the hospital longer than expected due to other health issues. While she could have gone home after the stroke, she was also dealing with lupus and kidney problems.

Today, Cori is recovering well. “I’m doing great,” she said. “I just had a little bit of motor skills that I had to work back on. But other than that, I was fine.”

Shailene Woodley struggled with serious health issues throughout her early twenties. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she explained that she experienced hearing loss, extreme fatigue, and digestive problems. Doctors offered various diagnoses, leaving her feeling confused and unwell.

Because she grew up with a holistic approach to health and studied herbalism, Shailene sought answers from both traditional doctors and alternative healers. This search for well-being lasted for ten years.

The physical discomfort led to mental health challenges, including fear of food and issues with body image and identity. She described a confusing period of feeling unsafe in her own body.

Fortunately, after years of focusing on both her physical and mental health, Shailene has fully recovered. She’s now healthy and happy, and grateful to be feeling well again.

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2026-01-20 21:20