When Savannah Guthrie learned of her mom’s disappearance on February 1, she jetted off to her hometown of Tucson, Arizona. However, as the investigation dragged on for weeks, Savannah returned to New York in early March.
The “Today” host sat down with former co-host Hoda Kotb to explain what led to her decision.
Why Savannah Guthrie Returned to New York
During the tearful conversation between the former co-hosts, Kotb asked Guthrie why her decision to come back to New York “was so difficult.”
“I looked out the window of the airplane and just thought, ‘Where are you?’ That desert, that beautiful desert that she loves, where are you? How could I leave you?” Guthrie sobbed.
She continued, “But my mom taught me a lot about grief. Our family knows grief. My father passed when I was 16 years old. He was only 49, and it was a shock. And I remember my mom saying, in those early days when Daddy died, you have to get up and decide and do. Just decide and do. She had read that in a book that meant a lot to her in her grief. I always remembered that.”
Guthrie explained that she is trying to emulate her mother’s strength in her decisions.
“I’ve felt terrible grief, and I’ve felt unfathomable love and comfort. The goodness and kindness of God is remarkable. And in equal measure to my sorrow,” she said. “She showed us how to survive the unimaginable.
She went on to explain that, for the entirety of her time in Tucson, her children were home in New York.
Guthrie shares daughter Vale and son Charles with her husband, Michael Feldman.
Savannah Guthrie Returned to ‘Today’ Studio
After returning to New York, Guthrie stopped by 30 Rock to pay a visit to her colleagues at the “Today” studio on March 5. She was seen emotionally embracing her friends in video shared by TMZ.
“While plans may change as her mother’s case develops, [Guthrie] is hoping to return to the ‘Today’ show after her children’s spring break,” a source told Page Six on Monday, March 23, of Savannah’s return.
According to the outlet, Guthrie may be back in the studio as early as next month, as many New York school return from break by April 10. Savannah is hoping to spend “as much time as possible” with her husband and children before going back to work, the source added.
