Cate Edwards Opens Up for First Time with TODAY's Savannah Guthrie

In a NBC News exclusive, Cate Edwards speaks out for the first time in a candid and intimate conversation with Savannah Guthrie. The eldest daughter of John Edwards, former Democratic presidential candidate, Cate Edwards opens up to Savannah Guthrie about her mother who lost a six-year battle with breast cancer and for whom she created the Elizabeth Edwards Foundation. She also discusses her father's affair, Rielle Hunter, and her half-sister Quinn. The exclusive interview will air today, March 29 on "Today" and "Rock Center with BrIan Williams."

Following are excerpts from the interview. If used, mandatory credit with airdate is required: Savannah Guthrie, "Today" and "Rock Center with BrIan Williams" airing today, March 29.

Savannah Guthrie: Well, it's been a little more than two years, right, since she passed? And I think if you have never lost a parent, it's hard to understand what that grief is like. But I imagine you miss her every day.

CATE EDWARDS: Yeah. For sure. Not a day goes by. You know, it's interesting. I miss her in sort of big ways and small ways. You know, it's big things that go by, like my wedding. She wasn't able to be there. But we got to talk about it. And I felt incredibly lucky that I got the chance to even have that conversation with her. And I sort of carried out some of her vision which was great to sort of feel her presence there even though she wasn't actually there. And then there are small things. I mean, I get away with bad grammar. I never used to get away with bad grammar. You know, I find a great deal online. We were super competitive about finding the best deal online.

Savannah Guthrie: What did you think when you first found out about what had happened with your dad and this affair? Did you first find out about it from him?

CATE EDWARDS: Yes, he told me. I guess he and my mom decided that that was, you know, how it needed to be done. So yeah, I was devastated. And I was disappointed. I mean, these are my parents. I had grown up with a lot of love in my family. And it was hard to see them go through this.

Savannah Guthrie: Were you mad?

CATE EDWARDS: Yeah, yeah, of course.

Savannah Guthrie: I would be remiss if I didn't ask you. Rielle Hunter. Have you ever met her?

CATE EDWARDS: I have, a long time ago, early in the campaign. Savannah Guthrie: I'm sure she's not someone you spend a great deal of time thinking about.

CATE EDWARDS: That's correct.

Savannah Guthrie: You know, she wrote a book. And she said some pretty unpleasant things about your mom. I'm not gonna repeat them. But did that make you mad?

CATE EDWARDS: Yeah, of course. Yeah, I mean -- I just thought it was -- I thought it was a poor choice, I guess, is all I can say.

Don Nash is the executive producer of "Today" (Mon. - Fri. 7-11am). David Corvo is the senior executive producer, Alexandra Wallace is the executive producer and BrIan Williams is the anchor and managing editor of "Rock Center with BrIan Williams" (Fridays 10p/9c).

Photo credit: Andrew Eccles/NBC