Hoda Kotb has stepped up to fill in for her former co-star and friend, Savannah Guthrie, over the past few months, during an unimaginable time.
Without hesitation, Hoda returned to Studio 1A to sit alongside Craig Melvin following the news of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance on January 31 - and has been back almost every day since.
However, on Monday March 30, the TV host was missing from the show, Laura Jarrett, the Saturday Today host, sat alongside Craig instead.
© NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal viaHoda's absence went unaddressed, as Craig simply said: "A very good morning to you. Thank you for starting your Monday with us. Thank you for starting your week with us as well. Laura Jarrett in for Savannah - who is back a week today."
Although Hoda's absence wasn't mentioned, the star likely had prior commitments. She has been balancing her return to Today alongside working for her own company - wellness brand Joy 101, and looking after her two young daughters, Haley, nine, and Hope, six.
© InstagramThe star was also thanked by her co-stars Craig and Jenna Bush Hager on Friday's show, as they announced Savannah's return date.
Craig made it clear just how grateful the show was to have Hoda back, telling her: "You've sat here for a few weeks. You've got a lot happening in your life. You've got two girls you're raising by yourself. And when the coach called and they said, 'We need someone to come in and pinch hit,' you didn't bat an eye."
© TODAYJenna mirrored Craig's words, telling Hoda: "We needed you." Hoda replied: "When we say family, we mean it."
Savannah and Hoda worked together on the main Today show for seven years, and during that time, they became close friends.
Savannah even shared a special acknowledgement dedicated to Hoda in her book, Mostly What God Does, which was released in 2025.
© NBCIt read: "And if you ever find yourself attempting something hard and scary, I hope you have someone as irresistibly enthusiastic as Hoda Kotb - and her two giant pom poms - cheering you to the finish line."
As a result, it was only natural that Hoda was asked to interview Savannah for her first televised talk about her mother's disappearance.
The interview aired over three days on Today, and covered everything from Savannah's return date to the show to her difficult decision to leave Arizona to return home to New York City, where her husband and two young children had remained since the search began on February 1.
During the chat, she also opened up about her family's beliefs that Nancy was taken for ransom, and her fears that her fame was the reason.
© Getty"To think that I brought this to her bedside. That it's because of me, and I just say, 'I'm so sorry mommy. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry to my sister and my brother and my kids and my nephew and Tommy, my brother-in-law. I'm just so sorry. I'm so sorry if it is me, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry,'" she said, as she broke down in tears.
Hoda - and the rest of the Today team - have been a great comfort to Savannah, and she's determined to come back. Showing her strength and resilience, Savannah told Hoda that she was determined to try and return to the show - mirroring Hoda's sentiments that they are a family.
"I can't come back and try to be something that I'm not. But I can't not come back because it's my family," she said. "I don't know if I can do it. I don't know if I'll belong anymore, but I would like to try. I would like to try."
