Why Savannah Guthrie Is Absent From 'Today' Amid Mom's Disappearance

Savannah Guthrie was absent from the Wednesday, June 17, broadcast of Today.

Today co-anchor Craig Melvin revealed at the start of Wednesday’s show that Savannah, 54, is “on assignment” and, thus, would not be present for the remainder of the episode. Sheinelle Jones, who hosts the fourth hour with Jenna Bush Hager, sat at the anchor desk in Savannah’s place.

Savannah previously returned to her Today duties in April, two months after her mom was reported missing. (Savannah’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, has been missing since February. Her whereabouts have not been located, nor has any suspect been arrested in connection with her apparent kidnapping.)

“My sister, Annie, called, she said, ‘She’s gone,’” Savannah said on the Today show in March, recalling how she was found out about their mom’s disappearance. “She was in a panic. I was in a panic. I’m like, ‘Call 911.’ She’s like. ‘I did. We called them. They’re here.’ It was just chaos and disbelief. From the very early moments, Annie and [her husband] were saying [to authorities], ‘This isn’t a case that you are used to, where someone wanders off. She can’t wander off.’”

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Nancy’s case has been open for over 100 days, which has admittedly been difficult for Savannah’s kids to comprehend. (The TV journalist shares Vale and Charley with her husband, Michael Feldman.)

“It’s so hard with kids. You want to protect them,” Savannah added at the time. “They’ll write me all the time, ‘Mama, any leads? You hear anything? Any hope?’ I think that we try to talk to them and try to get them a little more certainty than we have, to let them grieve.”

Savannah and her two siblings have since pledged to continue searching for Nancy.

“Mother, daughter, sister, Nonie, we miss you with every breath,” Savannah wrote in a Mother’s Day tribute shared via Instagram last month. “We will never stop looking for you. We will never be at peace until we find you.”

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She added at the time, “We need help. Someone knows something that can make the difference. Call 1800CALLFBI. You can be anonymous and the reward remains available. Please keep praying. Bring her home.”

For Savannah, she’s tried to keep her composure upon her return to Today.

“It’s really hard to come back and I’ve been trying so hard to hold it together. I promise I will. This show and this hour especially is about joy,” she said on Today With Jenna and Sheinelle earlier this month, speaking to Bush Hager, 44. “Having you, people behind the scenes, people in my ear, the producers, our cast mates. When I see you in the morning, I know that you see me. No matter what is going on.”

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