After weeks of speculation over her repeated absences from "Today," Savannah Guthrie addressed the questions herself on-air Thursday, July 16 - and the news is a welcome change of pace for a family that has spent months in the public eye under far heavier circumstances.
Guthrie told viewers she's stepping away from the anchor desk for a few weeks to begin filming the pilot for NBC's upcoming "Wordle" game show, which she was announced to host back in May. "We're about to do it, guys. I'm headed over to shoot Wordle over the next few weeks," she said. "We're gonna shoot the whole season and we're super excited. Cannot wait for everyone to see it."
The announcement puts an end to weeks of online speculation about whether her time away was connected to the ongoing search for her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing from her Tucson, Arizona, home since February 1. That investigation remains active, with the FBI and Pima County Sheriff's Office continuing to pursue leads and a combined $1.2 million reward still in place for information leading to her recovery.
Throughout the nearly six-month search, Guthrie has repeatedly credited prayer and her Christian faith for carrying her family through the uncertainty, telling viewers in past appearances that she and her siblings continue to "feel your prayers" even without answers. This latest update - however small - offers a rare piece of good news for a family that has faced an unimaginable season.
Guthrie is expected to return to her regular "Today" seat once filming wraps.
Anyone with information on Nancy Guthrie's disappearance is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff's Department tip line at (520) 351-4900.
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