Who is Nancy Guthrie? Inside the life of 'Today' host Savannah Guthrie's mother

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By Kristine Villarroel

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Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie.

Savannah Guthrie has credited her mother, Nancy, as a "rock" and major influence in her life. Nathan Congleton/NBC
  • Nancy Guthrie, 84, is the mother of "Today" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
  • Savannah Guthrie has credited her mother as a "rock" and major influence in her life.
  • Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her Tucson home on February 1.

For over a week, the disappearance of NBC host Savannah Guthrie's mother has gripped her Tucson community and drawn nationwide attention.

Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on February 1 after failing to show up for church services.

In the days since, local authorities and the FBI have launched an expansive multi-agency investigation for the "Today" co-anchor's mother.

Savannah Guthrie has described her mother as the "rock" who held her family together after her father's death when she was a teenager, and has credited Nancy as a major influence in her life, even encouraging her to pursue a career in journalism.

Here's a closer look at the life of the 84-year-old mother of three.

Nancy Guthrie grew up in Fort Wright, Kentucky, and attended the University of Kentucky.

 Aerial  view of the William T. Young Library at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky

Nancy Guthrie attended the University of Kentucky. Alexey Stiop/Shutterstock

Nancy Guthrie (née Long) grew up in Fort Wright, Kentucky, a small Cincinnati suburb.

She attended Catholic, all-girls elementary and high schools, and went on to enroll at the University of Kentucky.

While there, she worked with the student-run newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel, as a society editor and staff member. She covered Greek life for the publication, her former editor told local Kentucky outlet WKYT.

She married Charles Guthrie, and together they had three children, including Savannah Guthrie.

Australian-born presenter, Savannah Guthrie poses alongside her mother Nancy Guthrie during a production break whilst hosting NBC's "Today Show" live from Australia at Sydney Opera House on May 4, 2015 in Sydney, Australia.

Savannah Guthrie is the youngest of three kids. Don Arnold/WireImage

Nancy Guthrie met her future husband, Charles Guthrie, on a blind date at a basketball game at the University of Kentucky.

On the "Today" show in 2017, Savannah Guthrie said of their meeting, "The thing I always remember is that my mom said my dad walked up to the door of her sorority, and she looked at him and said, 'That's the man I'm going to marry!'"

Together, Nancy and Charles, who was an engineer, had three children: Annie, Camron, and Savannah.

They welcomed their youngest child, Savannah, while living in Australia.

Savannah Guthrie promoting her book "Mostly What God Does"

In 2024, Savannah Guthrie released "Mostly What God Does," a collection of faith-focused essays. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

The couple were living in Melbourne, Australia — where they had moved for Charles' work — when their youngest child, Savannah, was born in 1971.

Savannah Guthrie has often spoken about growing up in a tight-knit family where faith played a central role.

Her family spent every Sunday at the local Baptist church for Sunday school, morning service, choir practice, and night service.

"We liked to say that God was the sixth member of the Guthrie family," she wrote in a blog post.

Nancy Guthrie has lived in Arizona for decades.

An aerial view shows the home of Nancy Guthrie on February 7, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. The 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie went missing from her home in the early hours of Sunday, February 1st.

Nancy Guthrie has lived in Tucson, Arizona, since moving in the mid-1970s. Rebecca Noble/Getty Images

The family moved back to Arizona when Savannah was 2 years old, and her mother has lived in the area since.

After her husband died of a heart attack, Nancy Guthrie began working at the University of Arizona to help her children attend college.

Savannah Guthrie, wearing a University of Arizona jacket

Savannah Guthrie graduated from the University of Arizona. Nathan Congleton / NBCU Photo Bank / NBCUniversal / Getty

When Savannah was 16, Charles Guthrie died of a heart attack while working in Mexico.

After her husband's death, Nancy Guthrie stepped up as the "rock" who held the family together, her daughter has said.

Nancy Guthrie returned to work so her children could attend college, taking a public relations job at the University of Arizona so Savannah and Annie could attend tuition-free, the anchor told The Hollywood Reporter in 2016.

Until then, Nancy Guthrie had raised the family full-time.

She was a guiding force in the early days of Savannah Guthrie's career.

Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin on Monday, March 24, 2025

Nancy Guthrie inspired her daughter, Savannah, to follow her dreams in journalism. : Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

It was Nancy who encouraged her daughter to study journalism in college, which was the beginning of Savannah Guthrie's career.

In 1993, Savannah Guthrie earned a degree in journalism from the University of Arizona, graduating cum laude.

After earning a law degree, she returned to journalism, eventually becoming a co-anchor on "Today" in 2012.

Nancy Guthrie has appeared on "Today" multiple times alongside her daughter.

Savannah Guthri with her mom, Nancy Guthrie

Nancy Guthrie has appeared on national TV alongside her daughter, NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie. : Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

While Nancy Guthrie has largely maintained a private life, she has occasionally stepped into the spotlight in support of her daughter, appearing publicly with her, including on the "Today" show.

The appearances offered viewers a rare glimpse of the family behind the longtime morning show anchor.

On February 1, Nancy Guthrie was reported missing.

Sign left by neightbors outside of Nancy Guthrie's home in Tucson, Arizona

Nancy Guthrie was reported missing after failing to show up for church services on February 1. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

On February 1, Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her Tucson, Arizona, home after failing to show up for church services at a family member's home.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI immediately began a multi-agency search for the 84-year-old, treating the disappearance as a criminal case after finding evidence at her residence that they said suggested foul play.

The family has said that Nancy Gurthie has limited mobility and requires daily medication.

Phone showing FBI search page for Nancy Guthrie

Nancy Guthrie has been missing since February 1. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

On Wednesday, February 4, Savannah and her two siblings released a video on social media pleading with Nancy's potential kidnappers and asking for proof of life and information about her well-being.

"She is 84 years old. Her health, her heart is fragile," Savannah Guthrie read in the video. "She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive. She needs it not to suffer."

Search efforts have involved local authorities and the FBI.

Pima County Sheriff, Chris Nanos (left), speaks to the media on February 3, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. He and FBI assistant special agent in-charge Jon Edwards (right) were answering questions about the search for Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of NBC host Savannah Guthrie.

Federal and local authorities continue to investigate the case as of February 11. Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images

"The FBI is doing everything in our power to bring Nancy Guthrie home to her family," said Jon Edwards, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's office in Tucson, at a press conference on Tuesday, February 5.

On Tuesday, February 10, the FBI released recovered security camera footage showing a masked figure who appeared to be tampering with a doorbell camera outside Nancy Guthrie's home.

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