Savannah Guthrie intends to return to her hosting gig on NBC’s Today, sources close to the network have revealed.
Savannah, 54, has stepped away from the popular morning show amid the search for her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie. The 84-year-old was last seen January 31 at her home near Tucson, Arizona.
Speculation has swirled around Savannah’s extended absence from Today as to whether she will resume her hosting duties alongside Craig Melvin. But a new report from CNN indicates that Savannah is planning to return eventually.
One source close to the network told CNN that “her Today family will welcome her back with open arms on her timeline.”
The Independent has approached NBC and representatives for Savannah for comment.
The search for Nancy Guthrie has entered a fourth week as authorities continue to investigate her alleged kidnapping. A series of ransom notes, sent to various news outlets, which contained demands for millions of dollars in Bitcoin in exchange for Nancy’s return, are also being investigated.
Savannah and her siblings have released several videos in response, telling the alleged kidnappers that they are willing to pay. The family has since offered $1 million to anyone who provides information leading to Nancy’s return, although Savannah acknowledged in a recent video that her mother “may already be gone.”
The identity of the alleged kidnappers remains unknown.
In Guthrie’s absence, her former Today co-host Hoda Kotb has stepped in, returning to the show after her January 2025 departure.
While filling in, Kotb expressed how much she wanted to help Savannah in her time of need.
“I think there’s this helpless feeling. We’re all so close with her, and we all want to help her,” she said on her first day filling in for Guthrie. “They say love is patient, love is kind. Put prayers up, that’s all we can do.”
Kotb has also opened up about the messages of support she’s received from viewers hoping for a positive outcome for Savannah’s mother. During a recent episode of Today, Kotb shared that while traveling back to New York, she was stopped by multiple people sharing well wishes for Guthrie.
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“The number of people who came up and said, one thing they kept repeating, which just struck me, is, ‘She’s like all of our moms. She’s like all of our moms. Tell her we’re praying. Tell her we’re here,’” Kotb said.
“And I think that’s so important. It’s touched everybody.”

