Savannah Guthrie returned to the TODAY show on Monday morning. This came two months after her mother Nancy Guthrie, 84, was kidnapped from her home in Tucson, Arizona. Sadly, Nancy remains missing, and the search for her continues.
Now, new details about Savannah’s TODAY return are coming to light. Indeed, insiders are revealing the instructions Savannah’s TODAY colleagues were given before she came back to the show’s studio in New York City.
Savannah Returns To TODAY
Sources told Page Six that before Savannah returned to TODAY, NBC staffers were told not to address the disappearance of her mother in any way. In fact, they were instructed to not even specifically welcome Savannah back.
“It was supposed to be business as usual. [Producers] said to act totally normal,” said one insider. “‘Move forward’ is the vibe. It’s been a hard year and a draining time.”
The reasoning behind this is reportedly practical in nature, as addressing Savannah’s situation would interrupt the flow of things and require her to respond.
Savannah herself did not address her mother’s disappearance on air.
“It is good to be home,” Savannah said at the start of Monday’s show. “Ready or not, let’s do the news.”
Even so, insiders admitted that things were emotional behind the scenes.
“There were lots of hugs,” said another NBC source. “Coming back to a routine brings a sense of normalcy. She’s prepared to go back to Arizona if there are major developments in the case, or wherever she’s needed.”
A third network insider praised Savannah for her bravery.
“Savannah is the heart of the show and the steady hand that guides everyone in the right direction,” this source said. “The staff and crew, we all needed her back. It was emotional for everyone. Her sadness and pain are not gone, but her bravery and strength aren’t either, and her faith is unmatched. Just as she needed to come home to her children and husband, she also needed to come home to her TODAY family.”
Nancy’s Disappearance
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the night of Saturday, January 31. That evening, she had dinner with her daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni. They dropped her off at home afterwards at around 9:45pm, and she tragically hasn’t been seen since.
A masked intruder was captured on Nancy’s doorbell ring camera in the early hours of February 1. He managed to cover the camera with some plants before moving forward with the kidnapping.
It has since been revealed that the masked man had been seen in the doorbell ring camera prior to the night Nancy was taken. This indicates that he may have been casing out her home.
Savannah Breaks Down
During the 8am hour of Monday’s show, Savannah could not help but break down in tears as she greeted well-wishers with her colleagues on the TODAY show plaza. There, fans were holding loving signs and wearing yellow ribbons and shirts in honor of both Savannah and her mother.
“It’s a special Monday morning for us and for this crowd as well. Special, because we’re welcoming back our North Star, SG, come on out here,” Craig Melvin said as Savannah walked outside.
“These signs are so beautiful. You guys have been so beautiful,” Savannah told the crowd as she began to cry. “I’ve received so many letters, so much kindness to me and my family. We feel it. We feel your prayers so thank you so much.”
TODAY weatherman Al Roker offered Savannah his handkerchief. She then jokingly replied, “This is such a nice pocket square I don’t want to slobber on it.”
Check out the emotional moment for yourself in the video below.
This has clearly been an excruciatingly difficult time for Savannah, and for her entire family. Please join us in saying a prayer for them, and for the return of Nancy Guthrie.