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Hoda Kotb Says Savannah Guthrie Is in ‘Deep Searing Pain' as Mom Nancy Guthrie Remains Missing

By Grace Galante Parade - Trending Stories

Updated April 16, 2026 3:00 PM

Hoda Kotb is praising her "strong, courageous, beautiful" Today show co-star Savannah Guthrie amid the ongoing search for her missing mom Nancy Guthrie.

"She feels deep, searing pain, and she shows up," Kotb told Us Weekly at Sheinelle Jones‘ Through Mom's Eyes book launch on Wednesday, Apr. 15. "She's showing that both things can be true."

"Some pain you carry, you're not going to explain it away. You just have to go through life with it right in your pocket, and that's what she's doing. She's doing it in a way that I've never seen anyone do it before," she continued.

Savannah returned to the Today show on Monday, Apr. 6 after a two-month hiatus following Nancy's disappearance from her Arizona home on Feb. 1.

Kotb said watching her longtime friend walking "out on the plaza" at 30 Rock alongside Jenna Bush Hager is a "beautiful image" that is "seared in [her] memory."

Kotb filled in while Savannah was away, and she returned to Today earlier this week to cohost with Savannah while Craig Melvin is on vacation.

"When Savannah first walked on the set on Monday of this week, when I was there, she looked at me and she goes, ‘What is this, April of 2025?'" Kotb said. "Then she held me and didn't let go."

"I've literally been marveling at how she navigates [this]," she added.

Over the past two months, Savannah has shared with fans how her faith and belief in God is helping her as her mother remains missing.

"Savannah has demonstrated how powerful prayer is. How it's important for everybody to get on your knees on the good days and the bad days, just to be there," Kotb said. "It's the thing that makes you wake up in the morning. Without it, how are you navigating your days?"

The FBI urges anyone with tips or leads to call 1-800-CALL-FBI in addition to the Pima County Sheriff's Office number, 520-351-4900. A $1 million reward is currently being offered for information leading to the return or recovery of Nancy.

This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 1:42 PM.