TODAY's Savannah Guthrie was originally due to attend and host the opening ceremony for NBC at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, but was forced to pull out due to the harrowing disappearance of her mother Nancy Guthrie.
Search for the missing 84-year-old has entered its eighth day. Nancy was first reported missing the morning of February 1, and on February 4, NBC announced that as expected, Savannah, 54, will not make it to Milan to host.
© Getty ImagesIn her stead, Mary Carillo joined Terry Gannon in the anchors' booth, joined for the Parade of Nations on February 6 by Olympian and former pro snowboarder Shaun White.
Before they began the ceremony on Friday, though, Terry and Mary took a moment to acknowledge Savannah's absence and the painful ordeal she and her family are currently facing.
© Getty Images"We're certainly without a very important and beloved member of our team tonight," Terry said during the broadcast. "She is dearly missed by everybody."
Mary, who was named Savannah's replacement, touched on the mom-of-two's love for the Olympic Games, which also extends to the Summer Olympics. "Right now, of course, Savannah and her family are in unspeakable, unfathomable pain," she continued. "We know that in the U.S., her extended family is legion. Savannah, my friend, it's the same way here."
Terry ended with: "We send our love and prayers and all of our positive energy to Savannah tonight," before kicking off the opening ceremony itself.
Savannah isn't the only one from the main TODAY Show crew to back out from this year's ceremony, with her co-host for the morning news, Craig Melvin, also pulling out from Olympic Late Night. Ahmed Fareed instead took his place, and will be replaced by Maria Taylor when he flies back to the States on February 9 for NBA All-Star Weekend coverage.
© Getty ImagesFormer TODAY anchor Hoda Kotb, a close friend of Savannah's, also backed out. She was originally slated to join her friend and former colleague in Milan. Weekend TODAY host Peter Alexander took her place. The Winter Olympic Games kicked off in full swing on February 6, concluding on February 22 after a total of 116 events.
The search for Nancy continues, with no updates from law enforcement as of writing on any potential lead on suspects or a person of interest. The last update came from the Guthrie family themselves, with Savannah and her two siblings posting an emotional video on social media on Saturday, February 7.
© Getty Images"We received your message, and we understand," Savannah said, flanked by her sister Annie and brother Camron. "We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her." Her message seemingly references mysterious ransom notes that have been delivered to various media outlets, with some claiming reported asks as high as $6 million in Bitcoin.
"This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay."
