Jimmy Fallon Serenades Stephen Colbert with Surprise Rendition of 'My Way' to Mark Ending of “Late Show”

The song featured nods to Donald Trump, CBS and late night coming "down to just two Jimmys"

NEED TO KNOW

• Jimmy Fallon is showing support to Stephen Colbert
• The Tonight Show host made an appearance on The Late Show on Thursday, March 5, when he serenaded Colbert with a rendition of “My Way”
• The moment arrived close to two months before Colbert’s late-night series is set to end on CBS

Jimmy Fallon gave the ultimate on-air tribute to his pal Stephen Colbert following the Late Show's cancellation.

During the Thursday, March 5, episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Fallon unexpectedly broke into song as he serenaded his fellow late-night host with a rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" with lyrics pertaining specifically to his show coming to an end.

After gifting Colbert, 61, a painting that he commissioned for him, Fallon explained that he liked to sing on his Tonight Show, but teased "I wouldn't do it tonight."

Within a few seconds, after slouching down in his chair and feigning embarrassment, Fallon grabbed a strategically placed microphone and began singing "My Way" — only, it wasn't "My Way," it was Colbert's way.

"Now, the end is near. And so you face, the final curtain," Fallon, 51, sang. "But Trump, he made it clear, he wants you gone, of that we're certain."

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Fallon then nodded to Colbert's time on Comedy Central. "You've been a gracious host, we've loved you since, the old Report days. And more, much more than this, you did it your way."

Colbert got a kick out of the moment, smiling wide as Fallon stood up and began to work the room at the Ed Sullivan Theater.

"CBS, they said you're through, and now it's down, to just two Jimmys," Fallon sang, referring to himself and Jimmy Kimmel. "But wait, before you go, can I please have, one of your Emmys? Oh now, what will you do, dance with the stars, or move to Norway? In '28, you'd have our vote, you did it your way."

Fallon concluded the heartfelt moment by standing on the Late Show couch, while Colbert joined him and stood on his show's desk to wrap the interview and give him a hug.

Colbert revealed last year his Late Show would be wrapping in May 2026. He made the announcement during his July 17, 2025, episode.

CBS told PEOPLE in a statement at the time that the move — which followed Colbert slamming CBS’ parent company Paramount for giving Donald Trump $16 million in a settlement — was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night." Fallon was one of several current and former late-night hosts to show support for his friend, and he made an unannounced cameo on the Late Show in July 2025 following the news.

Colbert, who has spent 10 seasons behind the legendary Late Show desk, admitted in January that it "feels real now" that things are ending. The Late Show franchise began in 1993 with David Letterman as host. Colbert took over following his 2015 retirement.

Back in September, Colbert secured an Emmy win for Outstanding Talk Series and thanked CBS for "giving us the privilege to be part of the late night tradition, which I hope continues long after we're no longer doing the show."

"Sometimes you only truly know how much you love something when you get a sense that you might be losing it. In September of 2025, my friends, I have never loved my country more desperately," he said. "God bless America. Stay strong, be brave and if the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy and punch a higher floor!"

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weekdays on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET.

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