Entertainment

Savannah Guthrie had ‘no inkling’ during interview that Kelly Rowland was about to walk off ‘Today’ set

It was news to Savannah Guthrie that anything was amiss with Kelly Rowland when she interviewed her — two hours before she canceled her guest-hosting duties with Hoda Kotb.

“She was lovely. I had no idea, no inkling that anything was amiss,” Guthrie told Page Six at a book party for her faith-based memoir “Mostly What God Does” on Wednesday.

Kelly Rowland sat down with Savannah Guthrie before she canceled on Hoda Kotb. TODAY/NBC

“She was as sweet, and kind and professional as she ever was. I don’t know what happened behind the scenes,” Guthrie added.

Rowland appeared on the show last week to promote her upcoming Netflix film “Mea Culpa.” During the segment, Guthrie teased that Rowland would be filling in for Jenna Bush Hager on “Today with Hoda & Jenna,” but the Destiny Child’s star curtly replied, “We’ll see.” (Which, in retrospect, was a sign that things were going quietly off the rails).

Guthrie and Hoda Kobt have both said Rowland is always welcomed back on “Today.” GC Images

Page Six exclusively reported Rowland backed out of her guest-hosting duties because the morning show’s dressing rooms weren’t up to snuff.

“Kelly and her team were not happy. They did not like the dressing room, so they decided to pull her off the show, leaving [Kotb] without a guest host for the 10 a.m. hour,” a source familiar with the situation told us.

Rowland appeared on “Today” to promote her Netflx film, “Mea Cupa,” out Feb. 23. TODAY/NBC

Rowland’s rep Yvette Noel-Schure did not comment at the time, but subsequently released a statement to “Entertainment Tonight,” that sang her client’s praises.

“After 28 years of knowing her, Kelly Rowland remains one of the kindest, most amiable humans I have ever met and have had the blessing to represent,” Noel-Schure wrote.

Hotb told the entertainment news show she was “bummed” when Rowland walked out on “Today.”

Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager hosted a book party for Guthrie in New York on Wednesday. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

“I love Kelly. We love Kelly. She’s one of our all-time faves, and there’s no one who’s more gracious or graceful than Kelly,” she said.

Guthrie also shared her admiration for the star, telling us, “We love her, and she’s always welcomed back!”

As for those dressing rooms, Guthrie (perhaps generously) called them “historic.” “[The ‘Today’ studio facilities are] 70 plus years old, and we’re happy to be there because it’s kind of hallowed ground. We’re honored to be there.” she said.

Guthrie has released her faith-based memoir “Mostly What God Wants” this week. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

“We do our best and we kind of hope that what we lack in greenroom panache, we make up for in our warmth and gratitude when people come on the show,” she said, while secretly hoping for a “dressing room glow up at Studio 1A” after the Rowland fallout.

“No one will be happier than we are!” Guthrie quipped.

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