While Savannah Guthrie’s return to “Today” after more than two months was very emotional behind the scenes, we’re told that the on-air marching orders were to be “business as usual,” sources tell Page Six.
Sources say that ahead of the broadcast, NBC staffers appearing on the show were explicitly instructed not to address the disappearance of Guthrie’s mother, Nancy — who was abducted from her Arizona home in February — or even formally welcome the anchor back.
“It was supposed to be business as usual, [producers] said to act totally normal,” says a source. “‘Move forward’ is the vibe. It’s been a hard year and a draining time.”
We hear that the move is a practical one: correspondents mentioning Guthrie’s situation would interrupt the flow and would require her to respond, they feel.
Even so, Guthrie was welcomed back on air by her co-anchors Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Jenna Bush, Sheinelle Jones and Carson Daly over the course of the show.
“It is good to be home,” Guthrie said at the beginning of the show. “Ready or not, let’s do the news.”
Things were much more emotional behind the scenes.
Another source told us, “There were lots of hugs… Coming back to a routine brings a sense of normalcy. She’s prepared to go back to Arizona if there are major developments in the case, or wherever she’s needed.”
Nancy was taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona, home in the early hours, February 1, 2026.
Another source lauded Guthrie’s bravery.
“Savannah is the heart of the show and the steady hand that guides everyone in the right direction,” said the source. “The staff and crew, we all needed her back. It was emotional for everyone. Her sadness and pain are not gone, but her bravery and strength aren’t either, and her faith is unmatched. Just as she needed to come home to her children and husband, she also needed to come home to her ‘Today’ family.”
A source tells us there was no added security for her return.
Page Six exclusively reported that Guthrie would be returning to the show in April, following her children’s Spring Break vacations from school.
A source told us at the time that the journalist wanted to spend as much time as possible with her husband Michael Feldman, daughter Vale, 11, and son Charley, 9, before stepping back into the spotlight.
