CBS announced last month that it would not just be ending Colbert's run on the network but retiring the venerable Late Show franchise as a whole after the 2025-26 broadcast season, calling the divisive decision a "purely financial" one "against a challenging backdrop in late night."

The comedian has had a lot to deal with in recent weeks following the news that CBS was cancelling The Late Show. On July 17, Colbert told his viewers that the long-running late-night show had been dropped, with its final ever episode set to air in May 2026.

For seven years, Jon Batiste watched Stephen Colbert lead The Late Show night after night. The musician began serving as bandleader on the series with his house band Stay Human in 2015 and held the position through 2022.