Savannah Guthrie visited her Today family for the first time on March 5 since her mother Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance on January 31, and the reunion was an emotional one.
Her longtime friends and co-hosts Sheinelle Jones and Jenna Bush Hager got emotional as they recalled what it was like to finally embrace Savannah after months of distance, being that she went to Arizona to be with her family during the traumatizing time.
Co-hosts share thoughts on Savannah’s visit
During TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle, Sheinelle got “right into” what occurred moments before they went on-air. She shared: “Full disclosure: We’ve had a powerful morning this morning.”
Jenna interjected: “Yeah, Savannah has come back to her home here at 30 Rock and Studio 1A. We got to see her this morning and in her perfect way, she talked to all of us [and] hugged every single person in this room.”
The TV star added: “She said that she has the intention to return to the show even though it feels like the hardest thing to do. It’s also her home and where she feels so loved, and she is beyond loved here, and so we’re happy that she is home. I don’t know when she’ll actually return to the show, but she was here and that felt so good to get to hug her.”
© Getty ImagesSheinelle expressed that the raw moment felt surreal and that she was still processing it. She continued: “So this is just happening. This just in and so Jenna and I haven’t had a chance to talk about it amongst each other, but this is what I will share with you [the viewer].
When Savannah is here…we’ve all been waiting for her. We’ve all been wearing our pins and I’m just touching her and we’re hugging and everyone wants to lay eyes on her.”
Sheinelle got personal
Sheinelle revealed that she has a new outlook on how to perceive difficult times as of late.
She expressed: “But it’s interesting because I think I handle moments like this differently now. Because I am, in some ways – I’m not smiliing, but I feel I’m proud of Savannah and I’m rooting for Savannah, and I know the strength that it would take to even just come in here and to be amongst all of us.”
© Getty ImagesSheinelle turned to an analogy to help her reiterate the hope that she has in her heart for Savannah’s tough situation.
She explained: “And so I see it as – we’re in this storm and we’re not out of the storm but there’s a light somewhere, even in the midst of a storm. And I think her coming here and just being able to be with us, and for us to be able to hug her, I think it’s a step.”
Savannah’s healing
The TV co-host shared that she remains hopeful for Savannah’s healing and added: “I don’t know what’s ahead of us. We don’t know what’s ahead of us, but all I know is it is a step, and for me, any time you can take a step, I celebrate that.”
Sheinelle continued: “So I looked at her and hugged her and I’m like, ‘you know what, you are here. And we love you. Everyone loves you. And whenever you’re ready, we are here.’ So for me, I feel encouraged this morning that we are one step closer, just to getting a step to wherever it’s gonna be – that she was able to actually feel this. I think even for her to see us in our pins – I can’t imagine, you know.”
© Getty ImagesJenna chimed in and said: “The yellow flowers and the pins [and] all of your prayers – she feels them. She depends on them. She said, and she’s said this to me before during all of this. Her Pastor said, and I think she wouldn’t mind me sharing this. He said: ‘God is our last resort’ and she said, ‘No, God has always been my first resort.’…She’s one of the most precious things in our lives.”
Sheinelle added: “And she’s said it before – she feels your prayers and your well wishes and all of it, and I think we just keep it going. We keep loving her. We keep putting our arms around her and we’re gonna get her back here.”
Despite the hardship that Savannah continues to experience, she told the two co-hosts: “Okay, go do your show.”
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