Viewers have been following stories concerning Savannah Guthrie’s family after her mother went missing from her Arizona home earlier this month. This has included Guthrie stepping away from her work on Today. Since then, fans have been weighing in on the situation, including who could take her place on the show and whether a replacement was even needed.

Viewers Recently Saw A Familiar Face Return To Today 

Nancy Guthrie went missing on February 1, 2026, from her home in Catalina Foothills, Arizona. She had last been seen the evening before at her home.

Since this time, Savannah Guthrie has suspended her broadcasting duties, which include her work with Today, having been a co-anchor since 2012, to help in the search. This notably included covering the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Savannah Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie- YouTube
Various figures have been helping fill in for Guthrie on the show, including Hoda Kotb, who previously left her position in early 2025.

On social media, there had previously been speculation that Guthrie might be stepping away from the show permanently. In a post on Reddit, one person noted:

“Personally I don’t think Savannah will come back.”

They then asked commenters who they thought could be a good addition to the show. On their end, the original poster shared they thought Norah O’Donnell would make a good fit on the show. O’Donnell is currently known for her work with various CBS News programs over the years, including 60 Minutes and CBS Evening News. They also suggested that a newcomer join the show.

Some Fans Felt That Guthrie Would Return, While Others Offered Suggestions

However, not everyone agreed that Guthrie would necessarily leave the show, citing other similar broadcast journalists. They shared:

“I didn’t think Katie Couric or Sheinelle Jones would come back after their husbands pᴀssed away. But they did, so maybe Savannah will.”

However, others pointed out that, with the loss of their spouse, finances were also a concern. As previously reported, other networks have seen changes in recent months. This especially includes CBS, which has seen a shakeup following Bari Weiss becoming editor-in-chief. Thanks to this, some suspect someone who walked away from CBS News could soon be joining Today.

Taking to the comments, fans have shared various names. Others noted why they believe Guthrie would return. Some comments included:

“I’d rather see Gayle king …whose contract is supposedly up in a few months on CBS and is supposedly not going to be renewed.”
“I’d love to see someone NEW in the Today Show family. I feel like they’re constantly promoting from within and they’re not really finding the dynamic personalities necessary to anchor those main hours. I’d like to see them expand their reach a bit and find someone fresh.”
“I think it will take time, but she will come back. She can’t just retire.”
“I wish Hoda would come back.”
“I hope that Savannah doesn’t leave. She may take some time off for a while but she’s young and will eventually go back to work.”