Hoda Kotb Returns to the “Today” Show as Search Continues for Savannah Guthrie's Missing Mom

Savannah remains in Arizona with her family as the investigation into her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, continues

NEED TO KNOW

• Hoda Kotb returned to the Today show on Friday, Feb. 6
• Savannah Guthrie has not appeared on Today the week of Feb. 2, as the investigation into her mother Nancy’s disappearance enters its sixth day
• Kotb opened up about the outpouring of love and support for Savannah

Hoda Kotb returned to her Today show family on Friday, Feb. 6, as the investigation into Savannah Guthrie’s missing 84-year-old mother, Nancy, enters its sixth day 

“It feels like our family’s here,” said Sheinelle Jones, who has been covering for Savannah while she remains in Arizona with her family.  

Kotb, who sat at the anchor desk alongside Jones, Carson Daly and Craig Melvin, noted that she was “happy” to be back with the Today show co-hosts after originally exiting the show in January 2025. 

“First of all, I just want to say this whole thing’s breaking my heart and I’m happy to be sitting here with you,” Kotb said of Savannah’s situation. “I’ve been, like, wandering around going, 'Where do you go?' ”

“Because we’re your family! We’re here,” Jones said. 

“Yeah, and I picture Savannah sitting there,” Kotb noted, nodding to a seat at the table. 

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After sharing a segment about the outpouring of support for Savannah and the Guthrie family, Kotb reflected on Savannah’s impact during their own family’s struggles. 

“I think there’s this helpless feeling. I mean, we’re all so close to her and we all want to help her,” Kotb said, referencing her own daughter Hope’s medical struggles with type 1 diabetes. “I’m looking at us and I’m thinking, who was first in the hospital room when Hope was sick? Savannah.” 

She also referred to the 2017 deaths of Daly’s parents, saying, “Who hopped on a plane when your parents? Savannah."

“Who was sitting by Uche?” Kotb said to Jones, referring to the death of Jones’ husband Uche Ojeh, who died of glioblastoma in 2025. To Melvin, Kotb asked, “How about when your brother passed? I mean, she was there.” 

Kotb ended the segment with another message of hope, saying, “I was thinking this morning, you know when they say, ‘Love is patient. Love is kind.’ We’ll be patient and put prayers up.” 

“It’s just that feeling of helplessness,” Melvin added. “And we’re not helpless because it’s prayer and hope.”

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Nancy was first reported missing on Sunday, Feb. 1, after she failed to show up for church. Police believe the mother of three has been abducted and still have no suspects in the case. They are investigating an alleged ransom note sent to the media. FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said whoever wrote the ransom note set a deadline of 5 p.m. the evening of Feb. 5.

"If a transfer wasn’t made, the second demand was for next Monday,” he said at the press conference attended by PEOPLE on Thursday, Feb. 5. “I’m not going to go beyond that.”

After the deadline on Feb. 5, Savannah's brother Camron shared a video on Savannah's social media account. "This is Camron Guthrie. I'm speaking for the Guthrie family. Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you," Camron said. "We haven't heard anything directly. We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward."

He continued, "But first we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you, and we are waiting for contact."

The previous day, Savannah, Camron and their sister Annie sent a tearful video plea to their mom's potential abductor.

"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," Savannah said.

Kotb stepped down from her role at the Today show in January 2025 in order to spend more time with her two daughters, Haley, 9, and Hope, 6. She co-anchored the main hours of Today opposite Savannah from 2017 until her exit. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900. People are encouraged to call 88-CRIME or 520-882-7463. All calls remain anonymous. They can also use the mobile app P3TIPS or visit 88crime.org.

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