Replacements Named For Savannah Guthrie At Winter Olympics Amid Search For Her Mother
By Danielle Jennings on February 4, 2026 at 7:45 PM EST
Savannah Guthrie is making the search for her missing mother her top priority, and as a result, she has stepped away from her hosting duties on NBC. As the co-host of the "Today" show and commentator for the upcoming Winter Olympics, Guthrie has taken an indefinite leave of absence.
NBC has just announced Guthrie's replacements for the Winter Olympics, which begin on Friday, February 6, and they are familiar names within the network family.
NBC Names Replacements For Savannah Guthrie Ahead Of The Winter Olympics
Per Entertainment Weekly, on Wednesday, February 4, NBC confirmed that Mary Carillo and Terry Gannon will host the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, while Ahmed Fahreed will host "Olympic Late Night," all three taking over duties from Guthrie as she continues to search for her mother, Nancy Guthrie.
"Our hearts go out to Savannah and the entire Guthrie family. They continue to have our full support," Molly Solomon, executive producer/President of NBC Olympics Production, said in a statement announcing Guthrie's replacements.
"We are fortunate to have a deep bench of talented commentators who will step in and fill these roles," the statement continued. "Mary is one of the most experienced Olympic commentators ever and a master storyteller.... With his skill and versatility, Ahmed has proven time and again he can step into any hosting role, and we're thrilled he's available to handle our late-night coverage."
Guthrie has been absent from the "Today" show since Monday, February 2, as she traveled to Arizona to join the search for her mother, who went missing on January 30.
Police Shut Down Rumor That Guthrie's Brother-In-Law Was A Person Of Interest In Her Mother's Disappearance
Early Wednesday morning, reports began to swirl that Nancy's disappearance was connected to her son-in-law, who is married to Guthrie's sister, after Ashleigh Banfield claimed Tommasco Cioni was a suspect in the case.
However, shortly after, the Pima County Sheriff's Department shut those claims down.
"At this point, investigators have not identified a suspect or person of interest in this case, "a statement from the sheriff's department read, per Us Weekly. "Detectives continue to speak with anyone who may have had contact with Mrs. Guthrie."
"Detectives are working closely with the Guthrie family," the statement continued. "While we appreciate the public's concern, the sharing of unverified accusations or false information is irresponsible and does not assist the investigation. No suspect or person of interest has been identified at this time."
An Alleged Ransom Note Surfaced Demanding Bitcoin For Nancy's Return
TMZ broke the news that it received an alleged ransom note demanding millions in Bitcoin funds for Nancy's return to her family. The note was sent to the outlet on Tuesday, February 3, and TMZ determined that the Bitcoin address provided to send the funds was authentic.
The outlet sent the ransom request to the Pima County Sheriff's Department, who said they are "aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie" and "are taking all tips and leads very seriously."
Savannah Guthrie Pleads For Her Mother's Safe Return
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Guthrie asked her fans for prayers for Nancy's return, following the 84-year-old's disappearance.
"We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope," Guthrie's caption of the post read. "We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him. Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant."
"Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment," she continued. "We need you. 'He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.' A verse of Isaiah for all time for all of us."
Guthrie ended her post with the plea, "Bring her home."
Blood Was Reportedly Found Inside Nancy Guthrie's Home
A law enforcement source in the case shared with CBS News on February 3 that "a little bit of blood" was found inside Nancy's home.
The source added that currently, the blood does not have an identified source, but is being tested to determine who it belongs to.
Pima County authorities believe that Nancy was abducted from her home, dispelling previous speculation that she simply wandered away, which is highly unlikely due to her limited mobility and lack of cognitive impairment.
