Published Feb 6, 2026, 12:42 PM EST
Based in Los Angeles, Mona began her entertainment career in 2015, building experience across digital media and journalism. She has worked with major entertainment brands including iHeartMedia, E! News, Entertainment Tonight, and TMZ/TooFab, contributing to interviews, source development, and editorial production. Her writing even helped her team earn an Emmy Award at Entertainment Tonight. She has been an Entertainment & People News Reporter at ScreenRant since 2026.
Hoda Kotb is showing her support for her friend and former colleague, Savannah Guthrie.
Kotb, who retired from the Today show last year, returned to the desk Friday, February 6, in an attempt to rally behind Savannah as the search for her missing 84-year-old mother, Nancy, continues. While the moment was a somber one, Kotb, who sat at the anchor desk alongside Sheinelle Jones, Carson Daly, and Craig Melvin, said she was "happy" to be back with her Today family.
First of all, I just want to say this whole thing's breaking my heart and I'm happy to be sitting here with you. I've been, like, wandering around going, 'Where do you go?'
"And I picture Savannah sitting there," Kotb continued, nodding to Savannah's notably absent seat at the table. "I think there's this helpless feeling. I mean, we're all so close to her, and we all want to help her."
After sharing a segment about the support Savannah and her family have received from both the show and her friends and fans around the world, including statements from Maria Shriver, NBC colleagues in sports and news, and actress Jennifer Garner, Kotb reflected on the way the longtime TV personality was there for her when her daughter, Hope, was hospitalized amid struggles with type 1 diabetes.
"I'm looking at us, and I'm thinking, who was first in the hospital room when Hope was sick? Savannah," Kotb pointed out, before referencing the 2017 deaths of Daly's parents, saying, "Who hopped on a plane when your parents? Savannah."
She also noted how Savannah was there for Jones' husband, Uche Ojech, after he died of glioblastoma in 2025, and for Melvin when his brother passed away.
Who was sitting by Uche? How about when your brother passed? I mean, she was there.
Kotb ended the segment with another message of hope, sharing her "prayers" for the Guthrie family as the search for Nancy entered its sixth day, with the mother of three first reported missing on Sunday, February 1, after she failed to show up for church.
I was thinking this morning, you know when they say, 'Love is patient. Love is kind.' We’ll be patient and put prayers up.
Kotb's kind words and return to the Today show desk came amid continued pleas for Nancy's safe return, with Savannah's brother, Camron, sharing a video on his sister's Instagram account in which he spoke directly to "whoever is out there holding our mother."
This is Camron Guthrie. I'm speaking for the Guthrie family. Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven't heard anything directly. We need you to reach out, and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you, and we are waiting for contact.
Camron's message follows the deadline set in the alleged ransom note sent to the media, which was set to expire at 5 p.m. Thursday night. Police believe Nancy has been abducted and still have no suspects in the case and are continuing to investigate the countless tips that have come their way, as well as the alleged note in question.
Anyone with information regarding Nancy's disappearance is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI and/or the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900.
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