Savannah Guthrie returned to work on April 6 following the disappearance of her beloved mother, Nancy Guthrie, who was last seen on January 31.
The NBC star received a warm welcome from her Today family, who supported her during the emotional day. “It’s good to be home,” she said as she sat alongside Craig Melvin on the news desk – dressed in a yellow dress – the color that has become a symbol of hope during the search for Nancy.
While Savannah’s co-stars were on the show, her good friend and former co-star, Hoda Kotb, was noticeably absent.
Hoda had been filling in for Savannah during her leave, but left quietly on March 27, a week before Savannah’s return.
While the Joy 101 founder wasn’t there in person, she made sure that Savannah knew how much she cared from afar. Taking to social media, Hoda shared a picture of Savannah with her two children, Vale and Charles, and wrote: “With you xoxo.” She also responded to a clip of Savannah returning to the show which the Today Instagram account had posted, simply writing: “Gold standard.”
Savannah and Hoda are great friends, having met on Today and worked together on the main show for seven years. When she released her latest book, Mostly What God Does, in 2025, Savannah paid tribute to Hoda in the acknowledgement, writing: “And if you ever find yourself attempting something hard and scary, I hope you have someone as irresistibly enthusiastic as Hoda Kotb – and her two giant pom poms – cheering you to the finish line.”
© InstagramIn March, Savannah gave her first interview following her mother’s disappearance, and Hoda was chosen to conduct it.
During the conversation, they covered Savannah’s difficult decision to leave Arizona to return home to New York City, where her husband and two young children had remained since the search began on February 1.
© NBCDuring the chat, Savannah also opened up about her family’s belief that Nancy was taken for ransom and her fear that her fame was the reason.
© TODAY“To think that I brought this to her bedside. That it’s because of me, and I just say, ‘I’m so sorry mommy. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry to my sister and my brother and my kids and my nephew and Tommy, my brother-in-law. I’m just so sorry. I’m so sorry if it is me, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,'” she said, as she broke down in tears.
Showing her strength and resilience, Savannah later told Hoda that she was determined to return to the show.
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