Savannah Guthrie to Return to 'Today' Show as Mother's Disappearance Continues

The NBC anchor will resume co-hosting duties on April 6 while grappling with the ongoing mystery of her mother's abduction.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:05pm

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An extreme close-up of a shattered glass texture in dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting, conceptually representing the fragility and emotional turmoil surrounding Savannah Guthrie's personal tragedy.As Savannah Guthrie returns to the 'Today' show amid her mother's disappearance, the glittering shards of a shattered lens reflect the personal anguish and professional resilience of the beloved news anchor.NYC Today

Savannah Guthrie, the co-anchor of NBC's 'Today' show, is set to return to the program on April 6 after a two-month absence following the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on February 1. While Nancy remains missing, Savannah has decided to resume her on-air duties, stating that 'Today' is her 'family' and that she wants to 'smile' and let her 'joy be [her] protest' as she navigates this difficult personal situation.

Why it matters

Guthrie's return to 'Today' will be closely watched, as her personal tragedy has thrust her into the national spotlight in an unprecedented way for a news anchor. The show will need to strike a delicate balance, allowing Guthrie to grieve and process her mother's disappearance while also maintaining the program's upbeat tone and serving its large audience.

The details

Nancy Guthrie went missing from her home on February 1, with a masked man seen on her doorstep that morning. Savannah's son-in-law had dropped Nancy off at home the previous night. Investigators have received unverified ransom notes, leading them to believe the disappearance may be financially motivated, but no suspects have been publicly identified. The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy's recovery.

  • Nancy Guthrie went missing from her home on February 1.
  • Around 2:30 a.m. on February 1, Nancy's pacemaker made its last sync with her Apple devices, indicating a potential timeframe for when she was taken from the home.
  • Savannah Guthrie will return to co-hosting 'Today' on April 6.

The players

Savannah Guthrie

The co-anchor of NBC's 'Today' show, who is returning to the program after a two-month absence following her mother's disappearance.

Nancy Guthrie

Savannah Guthrie's mother, who went missing from her home on February 1 in a case that remains unsolved.

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What they’re saying

“It's hard to imagine doing it because it's such a place of joy and lightness, I can't come back and try to be something that I'm not. But I can't not come back, because it's my family. I think it's part of my purpose right now. I want to smile, and when I do, it will be real. And my joy will be my protest. My joy will be my answer, and being there is joyful, and when it's not, I'll say so.”

— Savannah Guthrie, Co-anchor, 'Today' show

“I consider this my family, and when times are hard you want to be with your family. And so I don't know if I can do it. I don't know if I'll belong anymore, but I would like to try. I would like to try.”

— Savannah Guthrie, Co-anchor, 'Today' show

What’s next

Investigators and the Guthrie family continue to appeal to the public for any information that could help locate Nancy Guthrie. The combined reward for her recovery now exceeds $1.2 million.

The takeaway

Savannah Guthrie's return to the 'Today' show will be a delicate balancing act, as she navigates her personal tragedy while also resuming her duties as a beloved news anchor. Her resilience and commitment to her 'Today' family will be an inspiration to viewers, even as the mystery of her mother's disappearance remains unresolved.