Savannah Guthrie replacement named for Olympics opening ceremony broadcast

Savannah Guthrie has dropped out of her hosting duties at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony amid her mother’s disappearance.

The Today anchor’s mom, Nancy Guthrie, remains nowhere to be found 48 hours after she was reported missing Sunday afternoon, as police believe she was abducted from her home in the middle of the night.

Savannah, 54, was set to head to Italy for the start of the winter games Friday, but will not be traveling abroad due to the family emergency.

An NBC Sports spokesperson said in a statement shared with The Independent, “Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time. Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother.”

Craig Melvin, who was also supposed to host Olympic Late Night from Milan from Saturday to Monday, will also be staying in the U.S. as well.

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The outlet later announced that Mary Carillo, the veteran sports commentator and former tennis player who will be working her 17th Olympic Games, will join Terry Gannon in Guthrie’s place. This will mark the 17th Olympic Games for Carillo, a veteran sports commentator and former tennis player.

Ahmed Fareed, who was already serving as a daytime host for a portion of the games in Milan, will now host the Olympic Late Night from Saturday to Monday.

“Our hearts go out to Savannah and the entire Guthrie family. They continue to have our full support,” Molly Solomon, the executive producer and president of NBC’s Olympics production, said in a statement shared with The Independent. “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. She and Terry will lead the American audience through one of the world’s greatest global moments.”

She continued, “With his skill and versatility, Ahmed has proven time and again he can step into any hosting role, and we’re thrilled he’s available to handle our late night coverage before heading to Los Angeles for NBA All-Star Weekend.”

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Guthrie was scheduled to co-host NBC’s coverage of the opening ceremony alongside Gannon, with three-time Olympic medalist snowboarder Shaun White expected to join the pair of broadcasters.

This would have marked her fourth time hosting an Olympic opening ceremony.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to host the Opening Ceremony alongside the incomparable Terry Gannon and snowboarding legend Shaun White,” Savannah said in a statement when the lineup was announced in September. “It’s such an honor to celebrate the world’s best athletes and introduce the magic and wonder of the Winter Games and northern Italy to viewers at home.”

Savannah reportedly planned to stay in Italy for a week to record NBC’s morning program with her former co-host Hoda Kotb. The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are set to run from February 6 to 26.

The anchor has been absent from the Today show as the search for Nancy enters its fourth day. The 84-year-old was reported missing Sunday afternoon after she failed to attend her usual church service.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Nancy was “abducted” Saturday night. Nancy, who is limited in mobility and relies on daily medication, left her phone, wallet, and car at her home in Tucson, Arizona. Investigators also found DNA evidence at the home, signs of forced entry, and blood, though it was unclear whose blood it was.

“Nancy Guthrie is of great sound and mind, this is not dementia related. She is as sharp as a tack. Her family wants everybody to know, this is not somebody that just wandered off,” Nanos said.

Savannah wrote on Instagram Monday night: “Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”