Carson Daly is grappling with the ongoing search for “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie’s mother the best way he knows how: by praying. “The Voice” host has turned to his faith as his dear friend and colleague’s mom, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, remained missing on February 4, 2026, four days after disappearing from her home in Tucson, Arizona.
Daly has addressed the heartbreaking situation on-air several times with “Today” co-anchors Jenna Bush Hager, Sheinelle Jones, and Craig Melvin, who have all urged their viewers to pray, with Daly acknowledging on the February 4 show that “it’s easy to be pessimistic” as the search continues, but important to stay positive.
Carson Daly Says It’s Important for Everyone to Stay Positive for Savannah Guthrie & Her Family
During a “Today” segment on February 3, as Daly and his co-anchors discussed their concern for the Guthrie family, Daly mentioned the social media plea that Savannah posted the previous night, in which she asked people to pray for her mom’s safe return.
Daly said, “I saw that post … I hit my knees and prayed. I don’t think I’ve ever prayed for anything harder in my life.”
“That’s all we can do right now,” Melvin replied, and Daly added, “And believe that if everybody does that, the power of the prayer can turn this around.”
After another piece aired on February 4 about the Guthrie family’s deep faith, seen in the video above, the co-anchors spoke again about how much they’ve all been praying and felt buoyed by viewers’ concerns.
Melvin told the group, “My pastor used to have this saying years ago. He’s like, ‘You know, it’s easy to be faithful when things are going well in your life. It’s easy to be faithful when you’re at the … top of the mountain. But the God of the mountain is the God of the valley.”
Daly then chimed in, “And it’s easy to be pessimistic and negative at a time like this. But I feel like you have the same option to still think about a positive outcome. I know as these hours and days go by, that feels harder, but we still have that ability, through our faith, to think, ‘Let’s get Nancy home.’ It just takes one phone call, and let’s continue to have that positivity out there.”
Savannah Guthrie Led a Discussion on Faith With Her ‘Today’ Co-Hosts in 2024
In February 2024, Savannah led a discussion on faith during an on-air segment with “Today” colleagues Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, Melvin and Daly, who talked about losing his dad when he was young — just like Savannah, whose dad Charles Guthrie died of a heart attack when she was 16.
Daly, who’s a practicing Catholic and was thrilled to meet Pope Leo alongside Michael Buble in December, told Savannah during their faith segment, “I think a lot of people inherit their faith from their parents. I lost my dad when I was young.”
“My mom remarried when I was seven or eight,” he continued. “He led by example. I wanted to be like him so bad, he was such a great guy. Faith was at the epicenter of his life, so I started to go to see what was there that this dude liked so much and I discovered my own faith that way.”
Daly later noted that his mom and stepdad died six weeks apart and that “never could have” survived that grief without his faith.
“I still think that faith and a belief in God is how we hold hands with whoever is in the next life,” Savannah told her “Today” colleagues. “I think God is our connection.
Praying for all!
So sick over all of this. Prayers for sure
Asking for God to cover Mrs. Nancy with His Love & Grace, and be near her through this horrible & terrifying situation.
Blessings for her Children, grandkids and All who Love her and want her Safely returned!
🙏🙏 around the clock-
Thy will be done- Amen