Savannah Guthrie’s much-anticipated return to the Today show could be just days away, insiders suggest, following her first interview since her mother, Nancy, was kidnapped.
In an emotional conversation with her fellow host, Hoda Kotb, Guthrie broke down in tears. The heartfelt interview is scheduled to be broadcast on Thursday and Friday.
Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother was taken from her Tucson, Arizona home, valued at $1 million, in the early hours of February 1st.
To date, the investigation has not identified any suspects or led to any arrests, despite being underway for almost two months.
Guthrie last appeared on-air just two days before her mother disappeared. Since then, she has predominantly remained in Arizona to support the search efforts and be with her family, while Kotb has stepped in to cover her role on the show.
While NBC has yet to confirm Guthrie’s return date, an announcement is expected soon, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, as reported by Variety.
Another source told Page Six that Savannah is hoping to return after her children’s spring break. In New York, most schools are back in session by April 10.
Savannah, who has been part of the program since 2012, returned to the Today studio earlier this month, and she told Kotb this week that she wanted to return to show the audience that ‘I’m still me.’
Savannah Guthrie’s official Today show return could be unveiled in matter of days after she gave her first interview since her mom Nancy’s abduction
Her 84-year-old mother was abducted from her $1 million Tucson, Arizona home in the early hours of February 1
‘I wanted you to know that I’m still standing, and I still have hope,’ she said. ‘And I don’t know what version of me that will be, but it will be.’
An excerpt of the interview was shared Wednesday, and Today said the full interview will air in two parts on Thursday and Friday.
Savannah and Kotb wept as she said she is haunted by thoughts of her mother’s ‘terror’ every night.
‘Someone needs to do the right thing. We are in agony. It is unbearable. And to think of what she went through,’ she said.
‘I wake up every night in the middle of the night, every night. And in the darkness, I imagine her terror. And it is unthinkable, but those thoughts demand to be thought. And I will not hide my face. But she needs to come home now.’
Savannah’s plea comes after the Guthrie family announced a $1 million reward to anyone who provides information that leads to the return of their mother.
The FBI has also offered $100,000 for information that leads to Nancy’s rescue.
But, Savannah and her close family have endured continual heartbreak amid a massive but so far fruitless search by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI.
The Today show host broke down in tears while sitting with her co-star Hoda Kotb for the emotional interview that is set to air on the program Thursday and Friday
Savannah was last on the air two days before her mother’s disappearance, and has primarily stayed in Arizona to assist the search and be with her family
The family released a heartbreaking statement during local Arizona news station, KVOA’s special broadcast on Saturday, titled ‘Bring Her Home – The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.’
The family thanked the people of Tucson for the support during the hunt for Nancy, telling their community – ‘We are all family now.’
‘We continue to believe it is Tucsonans, and the greater southern Arizona community, that hold the key to finding resolution in this case,’ the family said.
‘Someone knows something. It’s possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant.’
The family asked Tucson residents to ‘search their memories,’ focusing on the night of January 31 and the early morning hours of February 1, when investigators believe Nancy was taken from her home.
They asked the community for ‘renewed attention’ on their mom’s case and to search for anything significant, including camera footage, journal notes, text messages, and observations.
‘We miss our mom with every breath and we cannot be in peace until she is home. We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder. Our focus is solely on finding her and bringing her home,’ the statement continued.
‘We want to celebrate her beautiful and courageous life. But we cannot do that until she is brought to a final place of rest.’
The Daily Mail contacted NBC for comment.
