Fans of Today were surprised on Friday, June 5, when Savannah Guthrie’s usual spot at the desk went unoccupied. Co-anchor Craig Melvin welcomed viewers with a warm greeting before gesturing to a familiar face filling in for Savannah.
“Laura Jarrett in for Savannah, who’s getting a head start on her weekend,” Craig explained. Laura, the Weekend Today host, stepped in with her signature charm, wearing a bright red sleeveless dress and expressing excitement for Lizzo’s upcoming performance later in the show.
Savannah, 49, recently returned to Today on Monday, April 6, after taking extended leave to be with her family following the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie. Nancy, 84, was last seen on January 31 after a family dinner and game night, and the case remains unsolved more than 100 days later. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has vowed to continue the search: “We will not give up… we will make an arrest on this case.”:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(738x334:740x336)/Savannah-Guthrie-Nancy-Guthrie-040526-2d9dd398bcc148d9a8b9b644e1afb5c3.jpg)
Despite the heartache, Savannah has kept her family close. She marked her first Mother’s Day since Nancy went missing on May 10 with heartfelt tributes on Instagram, sharing precious moments with her children, Vale and Charles, and husband Michael Feldman. She wrote:
“Mother, daughter, sister, Nonie – we miss you with every breath. We will never stop looking for you. We will never be at peace until we find you. Please keep praying. Bring her home.”
Michael Feldman also honored Savannah’s strength in a touching post: “To the strongest person I know. Surrounding you with love on Mother’s Day.”
Savannah’s brief absence on Today was a small pause in an ongoing journey marked by love, resilience, and unwavering hope.
