Kathie Lee Gifford is sending her support to Savannah Guthrie as the search for Nancy Guthrie continues.
“If you see [the news coverage], just lift up a prayer, lift up a prayer for the family,” Gifford, 72, shared on the Monday, March 9, episode of Outkick’s “Tomi Lahren Is Fearless” podcast. “Who knows where their mom is. I just can’t imagine the agony that they’re going through. I pray every day and I text Savannah all the time. I don’t want to take time out of her grief, mourning, anxiety. She needs everything to be with her family now.”
Gifford worked on the Today show for 11 years and cohosted the fourth hour of the morning show alongside Hoda Kotb.
More than a month after Nancy, 84, was reported missing in Tucson, Arizona, after not attending a virtual church service, Gifford is trying not to speak too much about the case.
One thing Gifford is comfortable with sharing is her belief that encouragement is still very much needed for Savannah, who she described as a “woman of faith” who is praying “like she’s never prayed before.”
“Just pray,” the Nero & Paul author continued. “You don’t need to get on your knees. Just lifting up names, God hears it. I know what I think personally about it, and I’m just praying I’m wrong.”
Last month, Savannah, 54, shared a new statement about her mother as the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office continue to follow leads.
In an Instagram video posted on February 24, Savannah revealed that the family’s reward has been raised to $1 million, which will be paid “only for the recovery” of Nancy.
“We know that millions of you have been praying,” she shared. “So many people have been praying of every faith and no faith at all, praying for her return, and we feel those prayers. Please keep praying without ceasing. We still believe. We still believe in a miracle.”
Although Savannah has been missing from the Today show ever since her mom was reported missing, the NBC News journalist returned to her workplace on March 6 to thank her colleagues for their support.
“I have every intention of coming back,” she told her coworkers. “I don’t know how to come back, but I don’t know how not to. You’re my family and I would like to try.”
When asked if she thinks Savannah will come back to work, Gifford said she wasn’t sure.
“I came back to work a week after [my late husband] Frank passed away, but I was joyful when Frank died. Not because he died, but the way he died and where he went,” she explained. “I don’t think I could. I don’t know. I hope I never find out.”
Anyone with information on Nancy’s disappearance is urged to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit http://tips.fbi.gov.
