Appearing alongside Jenna Bush Hager on NBC’s "Today" show, Guthrie said returning to work has been difficult.
“It’s really hard to come back,” Guthrie said during the interview. She explained that the show is about joy and said she promises to keep it together, noting that she must in order to do the show.
She added that being on air provides a brief distraction, describing the show as “my little rest bit.” Guthrie acknowledged that thoughts of her mother never leave her.
Guthrie said colleagues at the show have provided ongoing support during the ordeal, helping her navigate emotional challenges.
“When I see you in the morning, I know that you see me no matter what’s going on,” she told Hager.
The longtime television host acknowledged that some viewers may wonder how she continues to work while her mother remains missing.
“No, never, never,” Guthrie said, addressing the idea that she could forget about her mother’s disappearance while on air. She said she cries every morning on the way to work and every day on the way home.
Guthrie also made a public appeal for information about her mother’s whereabouts, urging anyone with knowledge to come forward.
“Wish someone would call and say what they know,” she said.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, disappeared from her home near Tucson, Arizona, on Feb. 1. Investigators said she was taken against her will and continue to pursue leads in the case. No suspects have been publicly identified. The FBI and local authorities remain involved in the investigation.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s location or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. Guthrie’s family has separately announced a $1 million reward for information leading to her recovery.
During Monday’s interview, Guthrie spoke about relying on faith and family while navigating the uncertainty surrounding her mother’s disappearance.
She referenced a Bible verse about not growing faint while walking, and about there being times in life when simply walking and not growing faint is all one can do.
She also said she encourages her children to understand that sadness and joy can coexist, and that it is possible to hold both emotions at once.
“We can hold our sadness and hold our joy,” Guthrie said.
The conversation eventually shifted to lighter topics, including celebrity news, prompting Guthrie to lightheartedly say, “You know, I want to talk about all that dumb stuff too.”
Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.