Savannah Guthrie Remembers Late Father Charles in Her 50th Birthday Post: 'He Never Turned 50'

Savannah Guthrie's father, Charles, died from a sudden heart attack when she was 16

By
Dory Jackson
dory jackson headshot
Dory Jackson
Dory Jackson is a Staff Editor for PEOPLE's TV News team. Upon joining the brand in March 2021, she has had the opportunity to interview a long list of celebrities, from Kate Hudson to Pierce Brosnan to Billy Porter. She has also helped recap popular TV shows like 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,' 'Sister Wives' and 'Vanderpump Rules.' The New York-based Maryland native graduated from Randolph-Macon College in May 2016 with a focus on Communication Studies and Journalism. She came to PEOPLE in March 2021 after working at a number of major news companies, including Newsweek and Us Weekly. 
People Editorial Guidelines
Published on December 28, 2021 12:32PM EST
Savannah Guthrie birthday
Photo: Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

As Savannah Guthrie turned 50, she acknowledged the loved ones she cherishes most.

On Instagram Monday, the Today co-anchor reflected on her "perfect" birthday this year. In the post, she also included a photo of herself with a candlelit birthday cake, adding miscellaneous pics from her big day as well as throwbacks.

"God stunned me with a perfect pink sunrise that can't be captured on film but my sweet neighbor told me to wake up to see. 'Look out the window! What a sky to welcome you to this occasion!' she said," the broadcast journalist wrote. "Beautiful friends sent flowers and old photos and dear messages — thank you thank you thank you."

Savannah Guthrie's Today Show Colleagues Celebrate Her 50th Birthday: '50 Looks Gorgeous on You'

"I luxuriated in a hot bath and an awesome face mask that turned out to be a hair masque omg why do they make the print so small? #thisis50," Guthrie continued. "I listened to my favorite songs especially the ones that kept me company for decades. Thank you @pattygmusic. And did [my] first actual workout in 4 months — thanks @cdornerfitness for your brillz step aerobics sorry I could only complete 20 mins #againthisis50."

Additionally, Guthrie was able to spend her special day "surrounded" by her loved ones. "My husband [Mike Feldman] who treats me like a treasure … my darling angel babies … and the three who were there with me at the beginning … on this day 50 years ago today. Mom, Cam, Annie," she said.

Savannah Guthrie on the Today show
Savannah Guthrie. Zach Pagano/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Continuing to acknowledge the ones she loves, Guthrie dedicated the remainder of her birthday post to her late father, Charles.

"And not far from mind or heart ever, ever: my dear daddy, Christmas baby like me," she said. "He never turned 50 from 49. But tonight I have! So I treasure this gift of life and remember you always. And thank god for a half century of His kindness and grace and blessing."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Guthrie's father died after suffering a heart attack when she was 16 years old. She previously honored him in an essay she penned in 2017, saying that Charles was "always strong, sometimes terrifying, loyal to the end, and disarmingly gentle and tender when it counted."

"People adored him and gravitated towards him. But for all these wonderful and magnetic traits, the one I remain most grateful for is his integrity," the mom of two wrote on Today.com. "He had an unbending notion of right and wrong. His moral clarity was demanding and sometimes intimidating, but he tempered it, at the moment you most needed and least expected it, with kindness and mercy."