As the search for beloved Nancy Guthrie entered its fifth day, Jenna Bush Hager shared an emotional reaction during a discussion of the candlelight vigil held in her honor. Nancy is the missing mother of Bush Hager’s longtime colleague, Savannah Guthrie.
Speaking during the Thursday, February 5 episode of “Today With Jenna & Sheinelle,” Bush Hager shared how deeply the service moved her.
“[The vigil] was so beautiful at Good Shepherd Church in New York City,” Bush Hager said. “Thousands joined online, and people were there in person as well. It is our home church, it’s a church that [Savannah and I] both have been to for a decade since our babies were babies.”
Jenna Bush Hager Gets Emotional Discussing Vigil for Nancy Guthrie: VIDEO
Bush Hager said the vigil offered comfort during an especially painful moment and noted that former “Today” cohost Hoda Kotb attended the service in person.
She described the music and spoken words as “so comforting,” then shared a deeply personal moment that left her overcome with emotion.
“As I was watching with Mila, who is old enough to know what’s happening, and my husband [Henry Chase Hager], I just had my arm around my little girl, and she kept saying, ‘It’s gonna be OK, Mommy,’” Bush Hager said through tears.
Vigils Held in Tucson and New York as Search Continues
NBCUniversalNancy, 84, was reported missing in Arizona on Sunday, February 1, after a church friend noticed her absence from morning services.
Concern grew when one of her children later returned home and found it empty. She had last been seen the night before.
As the search stretched on, communities on both coasts came together in prayer. Candlelight vigils were held in New York City and in Tucson, Arizona, offering a shared space for hope.
As reported by the Arizona Daily Star, more than 500 people gathered at St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson on Wednesday, February 4, to pray for Nancy’s safe return, alongside the vigil in New York.
Bush Hager cohost Sheinelle Jones also spoke about an emotional video shared by Savannah and her siblings, Annie and Camron Guthrie, in which they pleaded for their mother to come home.
“I mean, I have to tell you, it was hard to watch,” Jones said.
Bush Hager added, “Also, I mean, Savannah writing that. The fact that they could write these beautiful words about their mother, whom they love so much, is just remarkable. And none of us here are stopping looking for her, doing anything we can, praying for her. I know that in hard times, sometimes it’s easy to lose hope, but I think prayer and hope is all that we have.”
Guthrie Siblings Share Emotional Message for Their Mom
In an emotional video statement, Savannah, Annie, and Camron thanked supporters for their prayers and offered a deeply personal picture of who Nancy is to them.
“Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light,” Savannah said.
“She is funny, spunk,y and clever. She has grandchildren who adore her, crowd around her, and cover her with kisses. She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her, and you’ll see.”
Annie then spoke directly about what their mother means to the family.
“Nancy is our mother, we are her children. She is our beacon. She holds fast to joy and all of life’s circumstances. She chooses joy day after day despite having already passed through great trials of pain and grief. We are always going to be merely human. Just normal human people who need our mom. Mama, if you’re listening we need you to come home. We miss you.”
Savannah also addressed reports of an alleged ransom note that has circulated in the media.
“We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media,” she said. “As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk. 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 closed with a direct and emotional plea to her mother.
NBC“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.”
As of the time of writing this story, Savannah’s mother, Nancy, had not been located by authorities.
