Darlene Love returns to 'The Tonight Show' as Jimmy Fallon continues David Letterman tradition

Darlene Love to perform holiday classic on 'The Tonight Show' as Jimmy Fallon carries on David Letterman tradition

Darlene Love will return to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon next week to perform “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” continuing a seasonal custom first established by David Letterman. The appearance, scheduled for Thursday, December 18, will mark Love’s third performance of the song on Fallon’s programme.

Love announced the news on Facebook, telling fans, “I’m soooooo excited to announce that I’ve been invited back to perform my #1 holiday classic.” She added that the annual performance is “such a joy” and said she looks forward to bringing “the holiday magic back to Fallon.”

As with previous appearances, Love will be joined by Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul, led by Steven Van Zandt, alongside longtime Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer. The performance will also mark Shaffer’s first return to The Tonight Show since he served as substitute bandleader in February.

Love first performed the song for Letterman in 1986 during his tenure on NBC’s Late Night. When Letterman launched The Late Show on CBS, the performance became an annual segment beginning in 1994 and continued until the end of his run. The tradition paused when Letterman stepped down, though he revived it on his YouTube channel in 2023.

Love said in early 2024 that she had hoped to restart the tradition on The Tonight Show but had encountered difficulties securing a performance slot. Later that year, the programme invited her back to perform in the studio, and viewers responded enthusiastically to the revival of the custom.

This year’s appearance aligns even more closely with Letterman’s original tradition. Instead of performing during the penultimate holiday episode, as she did in 2024, Love will appear on the final show before Christmas, reflecting the scheduling she received during her years on The Late Show.

Love’s visit also follows the twentieth anniversary of “Christmastime for the Jews,” the Saturday Night Live short for which she provided vocals. She has indicated interest in performing the song live, telling fans she hopes the anniversary will be “unforgettable.”