After navigating a period of personal heartbreak and uncertainty, Savannah Guthrie is preparing to return to “Today.” The longtime co-anchor is set to return to the desk after stepping away from the show for two months during the search for her beloved mother, Nancy Guthrie.
Her colleagues confirmed on air that she will return on Monday, April 6.
“We cannot wait to welcome her to Studio 1A,” Craig Melvin said during the broadcast.
Why Savannah Guthrie Chose to Come Back
The update came after the second part of Guthrie’s emotional interview with Hoda Kotb, where she spoke candidly about her decision to return.
“It’s my family, I think it’s part of my purpose right now,” she said. “I want to smile, and when I do, it will be real. And my joy will be my protest. My joy will be my answer, and being there is joyful. And when it’s not, I’ll say so.”
Guthrie said her connection to the show and her colleagues played a meaningful role in her choice.
“I’ve been so grateful to have this family, which I consider my greater family, and when times are hard, you want to be with your family. And I want to be with my family. I don’t know if I can do it. I don’t know if I’ll belong anymore, but I would like to try.”
While Guthrie has been away, several familiar faces have stepped in to support the show. Hoda Kotb and Sheinelle Jones have helped fill her role at the anchor desk, maintaining the program’s sense of continuity.
“We always talk about our show as a family. We are a family,” Kotb said. “I’m part of the family. I’m happy to be with you because we show up for each other.”
Time Away Focused on Family and Search Efforts
NBCUniversalGuthrie has been off air since Feb. 1, when her mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona.
In the weeks that followed, her focus has remained on her family and the ongoing effort to bring her mother home.
Earlier this month, she made a brief visit to Studio 1A to personally thank her colleagues for their support.
“I wanted you to know that I’m still standing, and I still have hope, and I’m still me. And I don’t know what version of me that will be, but it will be. I’m holding onto my faith. I still believe. And as my mom would say, ‘where else would I go?’”
Guthrie also shared her intention to return, even as she continues to navigate an uncertain and emotional time.
“I have every intention of coming back. I don’t know how to come back, but I don’t know how not to. You’re my family. And, I would like to try,”
Investigation Into Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance Continues
NBC/GettyThe search for Nancy Guthrie remains ongoing.
She was last seen on the night of Jan. 31 before being reported missing the following day. Authorities later released surveillance images showing a masked individual near her home.
Investigators have continued to follow leads, but no suspects have been publicly identified.
The Guthrie family has offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to her recovery. A separate FBI reward of $100,000 also remains in place.
In addition, the family has donated $500,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as part of their efforts to raise awareness.
