Hoda Kotb returned to the Today show amid Savannah Guthrie’s absence due to mom Nancy Guthrie’s shocking disappearance.
Kotb, 61, joined Craig Melvin, Sheinelle Jones and Carson Daly on Friday, February 6, where she addressed the ongoing search for Savannah’s mother.
“This whole thing is breaking my heart and I’m happy to be sitting here with you,” Kotb shared. “I picture Savannah sitting there. I just want to say good morning and everybody’s hoping and praying for Nancy’s safe return.”
Kotb, who was a coanchor on the show until January 2025, praised the “massive show of support” from the public.
Savannah Guthrie’s ‘Today’ Cohosts React to Her Mom Nancy’s Disappearance
“From vigils to people offering positive thoughts online, and just a lot of hope,” she noted. “The nation’s rallying around our dear friend Savannah and her family — believing their dear mom Nancy will be back soon in their loving arms.”
While Savannah’s coworkers are holding out hope, Kotb also acknowledged that there has been “this helpless feeling” as the public waits for answers.
“We’re all so close with her, we all want to help her,” she added. “I’m looking at us and I was thinking, ‘Who was first in the hospital when [my daughter] Hope was sick? Savannah. Who hopped on a plane when [Carson’s] parents [died]? Savannah. Who was sitting by [Sheinelle’s late husband] Uche [Ojeh]’s side? How about when your brother passed, [Craig]? She was there.’”
Kotb assured viewers that they would “be patient and put prayers up” for Savannah, 54, adding, “That’s all we can do.”
Savannah has been off the air since news broke on Sunday, February 1, that her 84-year-old mother was reported missing from her home in Arizona. Law enforcement officials are treating the home as a crime scene.
“Something unusual at that house occurred that made us go, ‘Wow, something’s wrong here. Something doesn’t fit,’” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos exclusively told Us Weekly on Monday, February 2. “We’re gonna pull all the stops and go at all angles. We really do hope it’s a search-and-rescue mission and we find her and she’s safe and sound. But it would be unjust if we didn’t look at what’s in front of us and go, ‘We need to act.’”
Nanos added: “This is an 84-year-old lady who is safe in her own home asleep, and she is taken. And that should never happen.”
Everything to Know About the Ongoing Search for Nancy Guthrie
Along with taking a step back from the Today show, Savannah pulled out of covering the 2026 Winter Olympics for NBC. She and her siblings released a video addressing Nancy’s potential kidnapper on Wednesday, February 4.
“On behalf of our family we want to thank all of you for the prayers for our beloved mom, Nancy,” Savannah said in the clip. “We feel them and we continue to believe that she feels them too. Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light. She is funny, spunky and clever.”
Savannah was overwhelmed with emotion as she noted her family is “doing everything that we can” to bring their mom home. (Authorities later announced there is a $50,000 reward being offered for information on Nancy’s whereabouts.)
“We are ready to talk,” Savannah said. “However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please, reach out to us.”
She concluded: “Mommy, if you are hearing this, you are a strong woman. You are God’s precious daughter, Nancy. We believe and know that even in this valley, He is with you. Everyone is looking for you, Mommy, everywhere. We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again. We speak to you every moment. And we pray without ceasing, and we rejoice in advance that the day that we hold you in our arms again. We love you, Mom.”
