Katie Couric Talks Savannah Guthrie’s ‘Today’ Future And More

Katie Couric is offering her take on when Savannah Guthriecould possibly return to the “Today” show, as she continues to search for her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie.

Couric, who held the “Today” show co-anchor position from 1991 until 2006, shares her thoughts in a recent interview.

In a recent interview with Variety on Thursday, February 26, Couric discussed her thoughts about the heartbreaking tragedy involving Guthrie, as she has stepped away from the “Today” show to devote her full attention to finding her mother, who has been missing for almost a month.

“This situation is tragically unprecedented, and I think it’s really hard to compare anything else to what Savannah and her family are dealing with right now,” Couric told the outlet.

She continued, noting that the “Today” show team is doing their best to cover for Guthrie while she focuses on bringing her mother home.

“Morning shows are living, breathing organisms, and when something happens to a member of these very close-knit teams, it is devastating, I think, to everyone,” Couric said. “The ‘Today’ show team is doing the best they possibly can, and it must be excruciating to try to carry on, but also to cover a story about a beloved colleague.”

She also praised Hoda Kotb, who has filled in amid Guthrie’s absence.

“They are fortunate that Hoda, who is a familiar and beloved face, is able to step in so seamlessly under very difficult circumstances,” she added.

In an Instagram post on February 3, a few days after Nancy Guthrie was declared missing, Couric posted a heartfelt message of support for Guthrie’s family.

“I cannot stop thinking and worrying about Nancy Guthrie, Savannah, her siblings and her children. There is just so much sadness and anxiety in the world—so much cruelty, it is almost impossible to fathom,” Couric’s caption read.

“Sending them and all of you out there love and support and praying for the safety and well being of this lovely mom and grandmother and honestly, right now for an entire country that seems lost,” she continued.

On February 25, Guthrie posted yet another Instagram video, this time announcing she was increasing the reward for her mother’s return to $1 million.

“Family reward of up to $1 million will be paid only for recovery of Nancy Guthrie, consistent with FBI criteria for payment of its reward in this case,” the caption of the video read.

“We need to know where she is, we need her to come home,” Guthrie said in the video. “We also know that she may be lost, she may already be gone. She may have already gone home to the lord that she loves.”

She continued, “If you’ve been waiting and you haven’t been sure, let this be your sign to please come forward.”

Despite the substantial reward increase, Guthrie has reportedly decided to leave Arizona, where her mother lives and disappeared from, to return back to her homebase of New York.

Per the Daily Mail, an inside source shared the details behind the decision.

“She can’t stay in Arizona forever. Her kids and her life are in New York City,” the source told the outlet. “The family is coming to terms with the fact that this might take years.”

According to USA Today, on Tuesday, February 24, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in part regarding the 84-year-old’s disappearance, “at this time, we will limit further updates to instances when new information warrants release.”

“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI continue to work around the clock on this investigation and are actively pursuing all viable leads,” the statement continued.