Savannah Guthrie's 'Today' Co-Stars Share Emotional Message After Her Visit
Savannah Guthrie returned to the Today show Thursday for the first time since her mother Nancy's disappearance over one month ago.
While the longtime cohost did not appear on the air, Guthrie "stopped by the studio this morning to be with and thank her Today colleagues,” according to a statement from NBC.
Later, hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones discussed Guthrie's appearance on the air in a heartfelt conversation.
'Felt so good to get to hug her'
Hager started off the segment, becoming choked up as she described what it was like seeing her colleague for the first time in weeks.
“Savannah has come back to her home here at 30 Rock in Studio 1A,” Bush Hager said, via InStyle. “We got to see her this morning and in her perfect way, she talked to all of us, hugged every single person in this room, the crew.”
Guthrie is planning to return to Today at some point, according to NBC, but is now fully focused on the search for her 84-year-old mother.
“[Savannah] said that she has the intention to return to the show even though it feels like the hardest thing to do. It’s also her home and where she feels so loved. And she is beyond loved here," Bush Hager said. "So we’re happy she’s home. I don’t know when she’s actually returning to the show. But she was here and that felt so good to get to hug her.”
'I'm proud of Savannah'
Jones, who took a leave of absence from Today last year following the death of her husband from cancer, drew on her own experience while also crediting Guthrie for her presence.
“It's interesting, because I think I handle moments like this differently now,” Jones said. “I'm not smiling, but I'm proud of Savannah, and I'm rooting for Savannah, and I know the strength that it would take to even just come in here and to be amongst all of us.”
The latest on Nancy Guthrie
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona on the night of Jan. 31. She was reported missing the following day after failing to show up at a friend's house.
Since then, there have been countless hours spent investigating what police says is a suspected kidnapping. Authorities have pored surveillance footage, tracked down thousands of tips and received some early DNA results, but so far to no avail.
Nevertheless, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos remains confident, telling NBC News earlier this week that investigators are "definitely closer" to solving the case.