The search for Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother has taken a toll, leading NBC to announce that veteran Olympic host Mary Carrillo will step in as co-host for Friday’s coverage of the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, with authorities suspecting she was taken from her home in Arizona without her consent, has overshadowed what was anticipated to be a significant week for the network.
The Olympics draw considerable viewership, standing out as one of the remaining events that consistently attracts large television audiences. Other major spectacles include the Super Bowl, which NBC will also air this weekend.
Savannah Guthrie was originally slated to co-host the ceremony alongside Terry Gannon, but NBC confirmed she would not be traveling to Italy because of her mother’s situation.
Carrillo, recognized among Olympic viewers, makes her 17th appearance at the Games and will work alongside Gannon. Notably, she spent two years of her childhood in Milan. She is experienced, having presided over closing ceremonies for three different Olympic Games: Salt Lake City in 2002, Beijing in 2008, and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Additionally, Craig Melvin, who co-hosts “Today” with Guthrie, will also remain in the U.S., with Ahmed Fareed taking over his scheduled late-night Olympics broadcast early next week.
NBC News has been closely covering Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, which has also gained attention on ABC’s “World News Tonight” this week.
