Savannah Guthrie gets emotional over childhood photo on 'Today' amid ongoing search for her mother

Savannah Guthrie became emotional during a recent episode of NBC’s Today after producers showed a childhood photo taken at her family home in Tucson, Arizona, the same city at the center of the ongoing search for her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie.

The emotional moment unfolded during a lighthearted discussion about awkward school pictures and childhood memories. When Guthrie’s old photo appeared on screen, the longtime anchor appeared visibly moved while reflecting on her younger years in Arizona. The segment carried extra emotional weight given the continued investigation into her mother’s disappearance earlier this year.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing from her Tucson-area home on February 1, 2026, in a case authorities have said is being treated as a suspected abduction. The disappearance prompted Savannah Guthrie to step away from Today for nearly two months before returning to the program in April.

Since returning to the morning show, Guthrie has experienced several emotional on-air moments tied to her family’s ordeal. Earlier this week, she unexpectedly exited a live broadcast midway through the program before returning the following day. Sources later said the departure was related to an appointment and not directly tied to developments in the investigation.

Guthrie has continued balancing her role on Today while publicly supporting efforts to find her mother. In previous interviews, she described her family as being "in agony" over the unresolved case and thanked viewers for their support during the difficult period.