Savannah Guthrieis back where millions have seen her countless times before, but nothing is the same.
The"Today" showanchor, long the joyful, steadfast face of the long-running morning show, has been absent for more than two months amid the disappearance of her84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie. But now she's back.
The journalist, 54, madeher return to the NBC morning showon Monday, April 6, clad in a yellow dress and with evident emotion. Surrounded by viewers wearing yellow ribbon stickers in honor of her missing mom and fans holding "Welcome back, Savannah" signs, Guthrie read the morning's biggest headlines. "It is good to be home," she went on to tell coanchor Craig Melvin, who said, "It is good to have you back at home."
"Well, here we go. Ready or not, let's do the news," Guthrie added with a smile.
Guthrie's mother has not been found, though the search continues. She was reported missing from her home in Arizona on Sunday, Feb. 1. Authorities, who have been searching for the 84-year-old ever since, have said they believe she was taken from her home against her will. In February, theFBI released images showinga masked suspect at Guthrie's front door before she disappeared, but the individual in the images has not been identified.
The horrifying series of events forced Savannah Guthrie, who has reported the news to millions every morning from Studio 1A since joining "Today" in 2011, to the center of one of the biggest news stories of the year. Her fans have her raw and emotional as she released tearful videos and interviews begging for her mother's return. As the days turned to weeks turned to months, it became clear that Guthrie would have make a decision about where her life would go from here, even without closure on her mother's fate.
She chose to go back to her "home" and "family" on "Today" as she described it. Here's what it was like watching her try to find normal in the morning news.
What was Guthrie's return like? Did she make it through as normal?
In spite of the emotional turmoil Guthrie is clearly still experiencing, she was nothing but professional and poised during her return. There were brief moments where the audience could see it wasn't precisely "back to normal" − a high five with coanchor Craig Melvin after the first hour, signs of support from fans outside the studio and all the anchors wearing some form of yellow to show their support for Guthrie. At the 7:30 a.m. ET hour the anchors, joined by Carson Daly and Al Roker, took a look at the four dozen or so viewers on Rockefeller Plaza to support Guthrie. "I'm excited to see them, given them all a hug," she said, her voice carrying emotion. "I've been really feeling the love so much, thank you."
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At the 8:30 a.m. mark, Guthrie and colleagues stepped outside and greeted her supporters. Craig Melvin remarked that it is a "special Monday morning" because "we're welcoming back our north star." Guthrie then walked out and waved to the crowd while locking arms with Jenna Bush Hager; the pair could be seen sharing a long hug before stepping outside.
Savannah Guthrie returns to the "Today" show on Monday, April 6 for the first time since her mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing on Feb. 1.Savannah Guthrie has been a main co‑anchor of NBC’s "Today" show since 2012. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Before she joined "Today," Guthrie was a Court TV correspondent. Here, she attends Lucky Magazine's VIP preview to benefit the Robin Hood Foundation at Gotham Hall on Nov. 18, 2004, in New York City.
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Savannah Guthrie attends NBC's "Today" at Rockefeller Plaza on Nov. 20, 2012, in New York City.
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Savannah Guthrie speaks with Jon Bon Jovi at the SiriusXM studios on Feb. 4, 2013, in New York City.
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Katie Couric and Savannah Guthrie attend the Yahoo News/ABC News White House Correspondents' dinner reception pre-party at Washington Hilton on May 3, 2014, in Washington, D.C.
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Former first lady Laura Bush and journalist Savannah Guthrie speak on stage at Mother/Daughter Dynasty: Two Generations of the Bush Family during Tina Brown's 7th annual Women in the World Summit at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on April 7, 2016, in New York City.
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Hosts Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie talk with singer Celine Dion on NBC's "Today" show at Rockefeller Plaza on July 22, 2016, in New York City.
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Jack Sock, Kevin Anderson, broadcaster Savannah Guthrie, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic pose prior to their men's doubles match on day one of the 2018 Laver Cup at the United Center on Sept. 21, 2018, in Chicago.
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Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie and former first lady Michelle Obama on stage during NBC's "Today" celebration of the International Day of the Girl at Rockefeller Plaza on Oct. 11, 2018, in New York City.
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President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during an NBC News town hall event moderated by Savannah Guthrie at the Perez Art Museum in Miami on Oct. 15, 2020.
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From left: Jessica Capshaw, Savannah Guthrie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Griffin and Gucci Westman attend A Dreamy Evening with Goopglow on July 18, 2022, in East Hampton, N.Y.
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"Today" show cohosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on Jan. 4, 2023, in New York City.
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Savannah Guthrie and her husband Michael Feldman attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 12, 2023, in Beverly Hills, California.
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Savannah Guthrie speaks with Scarlett Johansson on “Today,” Nov. 13, 2023
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Hoda Kotb, left, and Savannah Guthrie attend their panel discussion, Reflections on Faith, at 92NY on Feb. 22, 2024, in New York City.
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Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin on "Today," Jan. 22, 2025.
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From left: Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Willie Geist, Laura Jarrett and Dylan Dreyer attend "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert" at Radio City Music Hall on Feb. 14, 2025, in New York City.
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Savannah Guthrie and Millie Bobby Brown on “Today,” March 11, 2025.
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Savannah Guthrie returns to the 'Today' show after mother's kidnapping
Savannah Guthrie returns to the "Today" showon Monday, April 6 for the first time since her mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing on Feb. 1.Savannah Guthrie has been a main co‑anchor of NBC’s "Today" show since 2012.
But other than those small moments of irregularity, "Today" went on much as it does everyday. There was the hard news, including a segment on the war in Iran and updates from the Artemis II space mission, and the pop culture tidbits such as clips from this weekend's "Saturday Night Live." Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager interviewed a doctor and author about the effects of perimenopause on women in their 30s and 40s, giving the audience helpful insights about this confusing time. The hours ticked by smoothly and without incident. It did indeed feel like Guthrie came "home," and she was very welcome there.
Guthrie came back to 'Today' without answers about her mother
Guthrie returned to "Today" after an emotional interview with her longtime cohost Hoda Kotb, which aired on NBC in multiple parts starting March 26. She explained her decision to return, in spite of the lack of progress in the search for Nancy.
"It's hard to imagine doing it, because it's such a place of joy and lightness," Guthrie said. "I can't come back and try to be something that I'm not. But I can't not come back, because it's my family. I think it's part of my purpose right now. I want to smile. And when I do, it will be real. My joy will be my protest. My joy will be my answer. And being there is joyful."
It's clear that Guthrie found that joy based on her demeanor on the April 6 broadcast. She smiled, she laughed and she expressed genuine emotion. Nothing felt fake or forced, and the show did not dwell on Guthrie's trauma more than was necessary. The anchor is a veteran newswoman and journalist, and her returning show was a definitive way for her to remove herself from the center of the headlines.
One show back is a big milestone for Guthrie, but the real test will be waking up in the wee hours of the morning every weekday and continuing on. She is far from the first member of the "Today" "family" to return after heartbreak, tragedy and hardship − from cancer to the death of spouses to mental health challenges,the hosts have experienced a large share of intense struggles over the years. But they have all returned with grace and determination to do their jobs.
Based on her work so far, Guthrie seems like she will be ready for the long haul with "Today." And the show will be better for it.
Contributing: Brendan Morrow, Taijuan Moorman and Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Savannah Guthrie was not the news when she returned to 'Today'
