Jimmy Fallon serenades Stephen Colbert with 'Stephen’s way' tribute ahead of late show finale

Jimmy Fallon made a memorable appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Thursday night, delivering a special musical tribute ahead of the show’s upcoming finale.

Fallon, host of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, took to Colbert’s stage to perform a playful parody of Frank Sinatra’s classic “My Way,” reimagined as “Stephen’s Way.” The performance came during what is expected to be one of the final weeks before the historic Late Show airs its final episode on May 21, 2026.

Seated in the guest chair beside Colbert’s desk, Fallon sang the customized version of the iconic tune to an enthusiastic studio audience, adding witty lyric changes that referenced both the show’s imminent end and the late‑night landscape. One verse humorously noted, “CBS, they said you’re through/ And now it’s down to just two Jimmys,” nodding to fellow host Jimmy Kimmel alongside the network’s decision to retire the Late Show franchise.

Fallon also didn’t shy away from topical humor, including a lyric about former President Donald Trump’s apparent desire to see Colbert off the air, a reference to well‑publicized tensions between Trump and late‑night hosts.

The performance added a celebratory tone to what has been an emotional farewell season for Colbert, who has helmed The Late Show since 2015. CBS announced its plans to end the franchise last year, citing financial reasons behind the decision while also calling Colbert “irreplaceable.”

Fallon’s tribute highlighted the camaraderie among late‑night hosts, even amid competition, and offered fans a light‑hearted moment during the final chapter of one of late night’s most influential talk shows.