In a shocking development that has gripped the nation, Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing in Arizona in February 2026, prompting an urgent search by local authorities. According to reports from Pima County law enforcement, foul play could not be ruled out as efforts to locate the 84-year-old continued. Savannah Guthrie, known for her poised on-air presence, issued a heartfelt statement on behalf of her family, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support amid the uncertainty.
"On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support," Savannah said in the statement. "Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department." The disappearance has cast a shadow over what has long been portrayed as a deeply loving and resilient mother-daughter bond, one that Savannah has frequently celebrated in public forums over the years.
Nancy Guthrie raised Savannah and her two siblings, sister Annie and brother Camron, in Tucson, Arizona, after the sudden death of their father, Charles Guthrie, from a heart attack in 1991 when he was just 49 years old. Savannah was entering her senior year of high school at the time, a period she has described as profoundly challenging. The family navigated grief together, with Nancy emerging as a pillar of strength, according to multiple accounts shared by Savannah on the Today show and in written tributes.
Reflecting on her mother's fortitude during a 2023 episode of the NBC morning program, Savannah praised Nancy's unyielding resolve. "[My mom] is strong. She’s like hard, iron, granite strong," she said. "We had some hard times when I was a child. We lost my dad suddenly and shockingly. And my mom was so strong, and set aside her own grief in many ways, just to be there and make sure we could all move forward together." This sentiment underscores the foundational role Nancy played in helping the family rebuild after their loss.
Savannah has often credited her mother with instilling in her a profound sense of faith and self-belief. In that same 2023 appearance, she added, "The greatest gift my mother gave me was faith and belief in God." This spiritual guidance, Savannah noted, provided a compass through life's trials, including her own path to motherhood later in life. The two women have appeared together on Today in various segments over the years, offering viewers glimpses into their warm dynamic, from holiday specials to casual chats.
In an open letter for Mother’s Day in 2017, Savannah honored Nancy’s sacrifices for her kids. “As you know, there’s no manual that tells you how to be a mother. But I’m lucky because I had something better: you,” she wrote. “I’ve been watching how you move through this world with integrity and grace for my whole life, and when it came time to be a mother, there was no better example for me to follow.”
The letter delved deeper into the aftermath of Charles's death, marking 26 years since the tragedy by 2017. Savannah recalled how the family "clung to each other for dear life in the years that followed," marveling at Nancy's selflessness. "Your strength and selflessness in the face of that shock amazes me to this day," she wrote. Despite the temptation to keep her children close as they grew, Nancy encouraged Savannah's independence, particularly when she graduated from high school and later from the University of Arizona.
After attending the University of Arizona and living at home due to financial constraints—"we didn’t have money to afford the dorms," Savannah explained—she faced a pivotal choice upon landing a broadcasting job in Montana. Recounting the moment during a 2022 Today episode, she said, "It was really hard for me to leave her. She just gave me permission to go, and she could have held on to me, it wouldn’t have taken very much." This act of letting go, Savannah emphasized, was instrumental in launching her career, which eventually led her to the anchor desk at Today.
Nancy's parenting philosophy, as described by Savannah, emphasized fostering self-sufficiency over dependency. "You don’t spoon feed your kids, you teach them how to eat for themselves … if we’re doing it right they should be self-sufficient, they’re not supposed to be needy, and also we’re not supposed to be the center of their universe," Savannah shared in 2022. This approach resonated with Savannah as she raised her own children, Vale and Charley, with husband Michael Feldman, a political consultant she married in 2014.
Looking back on her delayed journey to motherhood in her 30s, Savannah highlighted Nancy's unwavering encouragement during a 2023 Today segment. "When I was in my 30s, I really wished to be married and to be a mom, and things just did not happen that fast for me," she recounted. Her mother's confidence proved vital: "She said, ‘Of course you’ll be a mom, and you’re going to be a wonderful mom.’ And for her to have that confidence and faith was so meaningful to me. It got me through some really hard times."
Savannah expressed particular joy in seeing Nancy interact with her grandchildren, a relationship she once feared might never materialize. "She loves her grandkids. I never knew that she would get to know my kids, because I didn’t know I was going to get to have kids, and it’s just such a joy that she gets to," she said in 2023. These moments, captured in family visits and on-air appearances, painted a picture of a grandmother deeply invested in her extended family.
In a 2014 article for Today, Savannah outlined key lessons imparted by Nancy, framing them as timeless advice for mothers and daughters alike. Among them: "Say you love her all the time. But more importantly, show her, with your loyalty and the sacrifices you make for her. She notices." Another gem was to "command respect but never be scary," balancing authority with approachability. Savannah also advised affirming a daughter's inner qualities over superficial ones: "Tell her she is pretty even during those years when she is definitely not — but always be far more interested in the beauty of her heart and her character."
The enduring nature of Nancy's role was a recurring theme. Even as her children aged, she remained a constant source of support. "Even when [your daughter] is 42 and about to be a mom herself, she will need you more than ever," Savannah wrote in 2014, drawing from her own experiences. This perspective highlighted Nancy's adaptability, evolving from primary caregiver to trusted confidante.
Celebrations of Nancy's milestones further illuminated their bond. For her 80th birthday in 2022, Savannah dedicated a segment on Today to her mother, describing her as a woman of unwavering principle. "She’s lived a life of integrity and loyalty," Savannah said. "She is a consistent doer of the right thing and the hard thing. She’s a truth teller, whether you really want to hear the truth or not. She’s quick and she’s smart, she’s well-read, she’s curious about everything." These qualities, Savannah noted, have been evident throughout Nancy's life, from raising three children as a widow to embracing her role as a grandmother.
The 2017 Mother's Day letter also touched on Nancy's encouragement of Savannah's ambitions. "Because you don’t give shallow praise, you don’t say anything you don’t mean. So when you have said over the years, ‘You can do this, honey. Go for it!’ I could start to believe it myself," she wrote. This genuine affirmation, coupled with Nancy's assurance that "home will always be here for you," gave Savannah the courage to pursue journalism in far-flung places like Tucson, Montana, and eventually New York City.
As the search for Nancy in Arizona presses on, the Guthrie family's story serves as a reminder of the profound impact of parental influence. Savannah's public tributes over nearly a decade reveal a relationship forged in adversity yet sustained by mutual respect and love. Law enforcement officials in Pima County continue their investigation, urging the public to come forward with any leads. For now, the outpouring of support from fans and colleagues underscores the widespread admiration for both women and the hope for a swift resolution to this distressing situation.