Savannah Guthrie’s mom is missing, and because of her family situation, she’ll understandably be absent from the broadcast at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, which starts on Friday, February 6.
Both Guthrie and Craig Melvin won’t be broadcasting from the event. Originally, both “Today Show” anchors were scheduled to fly to Milan, Italy, for NBC’s Winter Olympics coverage, starting with Guthrie co-hosting with Terry Gannon and commentary from snowboarder Shaun White. But, it’s been confirmed that both Guthrie and Melvin will be absent, as the search for Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, continues.
Nancy Guthrie went missing on Saturday, January 31, and police have yet to identify a suspect. Guthrie posted a video on social media along with her siblings, Annie and Camron, on Wednesday, February 4, in which address their mom and her potential abductor.
“We, too, have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media. As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk,” she says in the video clip. “However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated.”
She adds, “We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please, reach out to us.”
Who is Replacing Savannah Guthrie at the Winter Olympics?
So, who’s taking Guthrie’s place at the event? On Wednesday, February 4, NBC officially announced that longtime NBC Sports analyst Mary Carillo will replace Guthrie at the event and host the 2026 Opening Ceremony.
“Our hearts go out to Savannah and the entire Guthrie family,” Molly Solomon, executive producer and president of NBC Olympics Production, said in a statement. “They continue to have our full support. We are fortunate to have a deep bench of talented commentators who will step in and fill these roles. Mary is one of the most experienced Olympic commentators ever and a master storyteller.”
According to an official press release from NBC, Carillo actually lived in Milan for two years as a child. Milan Cortina will be her 17th Olympic assignment and 14th with NBCUniversal.
Who is Replacing Craig Melvin at the Olympics?
Also, taking the place of Melvin on Olympic Late Night will be Ahmed Fareed. This is a natural fit, since Fareed was already scheduled to be a daytime host in Milan for part of the festivities.
“With his skill and versatility, Ahmed has proven time and again he can step into any hosting role,” Solomon said in a statement, “and we’re thrilled he’s available to handle our late night coverage before heading to Los Angeles for NBA All-Star Weekend.”
Despite the change, some things will remain the same at the 2026 Winter Olympics. “As previously announced, Shaun White will join the Opening Ceremony commentators in the booth during the Parade of Athletes,” NBC states. “Following the Opening Ceremony, Carillo will cover the Games as a SportsDesk reporter.”
We send the Guthrie family our well-wishes during this difficult time and hope they’re reunited with their mom soon.
Who Replaced Savannah Guthrie at the Olympics for NBC?