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Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of the Today Show, stepped away from her hosting duties following the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie. As of March 2026, Nancy remains missing. While Savannah and her family have issued incentives to those with information to step forward, they have yet to receive any confirmation on what occurred or where Nancy is today. Savannah eventually plans on returning to the Today Show, and an expert noted that NBC likely didn’t offer her higher pay. Here’s why.

Savannah Guthrie plans to return to the ‘Today Show’ following the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie

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Nancy Guthrie, the 84‑year‑old mother of Today co‑anchor Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Catalina Foothills, Arizona home on Feb. 1, 2026, People reports. Authorities have treated her disappearance as an apparent abduction. Investigators, including the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, have found evidence suggesting foul play, including blood at the scene and a loss of connection from her pacemaker. Despite an extensive investigation involving forensic analysis and camera footage, no suspects have been publicly identified. And law enforcement continues to solicit tips from the public. The family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to her recovery.

According to Today, Savannah visited Studio 1A in Rockefeller Center to personally tell her colleagues that she plans to return to the show, though she hasn’t chosen an exact date. She also thanked them for their support.

“I wanted you to know that I’m still standing, and I still have hope, and I’m still me,” she said. “And I don’t know what version of me that will be, but it will be. … 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.”

Did NBC offer her higher pay to return to the show? A PR consultant says this is unlikely

Chad Teixeira, brand and PR consultant, spoke to Irish Star US about Savannah Guthrie’s eventual return to Today. He called the situation “incredibly delicate, both personally and professionally.” Teixeira added that it would be smart for Savannah to acknowledge the situation with her mother at the start of the show before moving forward.

“Viewers already know what’s going on, and over the past couple of months, we’ve seen Savannah make emotional public appeals for information about her mother, Nancy Guthrie, and even announce a $1 million reward for help in finding her,” the PR consultant told the publication. “Ignoring it completely would feel strange given how widely it’s been covered.” He added that audiences will likely be “compassionate” toward Savannah, and those around her will continue to show their support. Additionally, Savannah’s return to her job is unlikely to “read as insensitive” to viewers.

When it comes to Savannah’s salary, Teixeria said it’s “extremely unlikely” that NBC would’ve offered her higher pay to return.

“In a situation involving a missing family member, the last thing a network wants is the perception that a presenter has been pushed back on air for commercial reasons,” the consultant noted. “This will be about giving her the space to decide when she’s ready.”

Savannah Guthrie’s co-hosts are excited for her eventual return

Savannah Guthrie will take as much time as she needs to cope with her difficult family situation before returning to Today. All in all, she has the loving support of her co-workers when she decides to return to the air.

“She said that she has the intention to return to the show, even though it feels like the hardest thing to do,” Jenna Bush Hager said, according to Entertainment Weekly. “It’s also her home and where she feels so loved. And she is beyond loved here. And so, we’re happy that she is home. I don’t know when she is actually returning to the show, but she was here and that felt so good to get to hug her.”

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