Savannah Guthrie is set to make her comeback as co-host of NBC’s Today show following an absence of nearly two months due to her 84-year-old mother’s disappearance. In an interview, she expressed that her “protest” will be through finding joy in her return.
Hoda Kotb, who has been filling in for Guthrie, announced on Friday after an emotional conversation with Guthrie that her return is scheduled for April 6. Guthrie shared her apprehensions about returning to a place of happiness and positivity but emphasized her determination to try, despite her uncertainties about fitting in.
Acknowledging the importance of her work as part of her family, Guthrie stated, “I want to smile genuinely, and my joy will be my response. Being present is joyful, and I will be transparent if it’s not.”
Nancy Guthrie went missing from her Arizona residence on February 1, with authorities suspecting foul play. The FBI released surveillance footage of a masked individual outside Guthrie’s home on the night she disappeared, but no new evidence has been publicly disclosed recently.
In efforts to locate her mother, the Guthrie family has offered a reward of $1 million US. Savannah Guthrie, who has co-hosted NBC’s morning program since 2012, also withdrew from covering the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics following her mother’s disappearance.
While abductions are uncommon, the majority of missing individuals are often runaways rather than victims of kidnapping. Data from the U.S. National Crime Information Center in 2024 revealed that over 530,000 missing-person records were filed, with about 95% categorized as runaways and 1% as abductions.
Recognizing her mother as one of the missing, Guthrie has supported the Center for Missing and Exploited Children and highlighted the cases of three missing children from Arizona. The organization emphasized the importance of public vigilance in aiding the recovery of missing individuals.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office reported that tips regarding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance are still being received, albeit at a decreasing rate. Portions of Kotb’s interview with Savannah Guthrie were released gradually this week, revealing Guthrie’s certainty that her mother did not wander off due to her medical condition.
Guthrie and her siblings responded to ransom notes they deemed credible by offering payment. She expressed her belief that her status as a public figure might have played a role in her mother’s disappearance, a notion she finds unbearable.
Appealing for information, Guthrie emphasized the family’s need for closure and healing, stressing the agony of not knowing her mother’s whereabouts. She urged anyone with information to come forward, stating, “Our hearts are in agony, and we cannot find peace until we know the truth.”
