Savannah Guthrie Says ‘I Cry Every Morning’ While Her Mom Is Missing
Savannah Guthrie filled in for Sheinelle Jones on the fourth hour of “Today” and shared her emotional journey of returning to work while her mother, Nancy, is still missing. In a heartfelt conversation with Jenna Bush Hager, Guthrie expressed her struggle to hold back tears, acknowledging Hager as her best friend and source of strength during this challenging time.
“It’s really hard to come back,” Guthrie admitted, her voice wavering with emotion. “I’ve been trying so hard to hold it together, and I promise I will.” Despite the overwhelming grief of her mother’s absence, Guthrie finds solace in the routine of her work at “Today,” describing it as a brief respite from her daily anguish.
“Seeing you in the morning, I know that you see me, no matter what is going on,” Guthrie told Hager. “Sometimes, that’s almost too much because I feel like to do the job, I gotta keep it together. But I’m happy to be back and it’s like two hours of my day that — it’s not that I’m not thinking about it, because I am — but it’s something to do. It brings me a lot of joy to be with everybody. It’s not easy.”
Guthrie emphasized the support she receives from her “Today” team, likening them to family. She admitted that if she had any other job, she wouldn’t have had the strength to return to work. The connection and camaraderie she experiences at the show provide a sense of comfort and normalcy during a tumultuous time in her life.
“I just felt like, ‘What else should I do?’” Guthrie shared. “And my mom would’ve said the same: ‘Just keep going, just keep going.’ And it’s hard when you’re with your best friend to not be real.” Despite the facade she puts on for the show, Guthrie is still navigating her grief on a daily basis, taking each day “step by step.”
“It’s always with me,” Guthrie confessed. “I cry every morning on the way to work, and I cry every morning on the way home. I’m grateful to have good friends, and to be able to come to such a beautiful, joyous, and supportive place, and like so many people out there, you can hold all of these things together.”
Guthrie’s poignant words reflect the universal experience of grief and the resilience it takes to continue moving forward. Her vulnerability and honesty serve as a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is light to be found in the support of loved ones and the strength to persevere.
