Jon Batiste is leaving "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after long seven seasons of being the band leader of the show. Show Batiste recently made waves in the music scene after bagging the most number of gramophones at the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards. GRAMMY-nominated multi-instrumentalist Louis Cato is replacing Batiste as the late-night show's bandleader. Why is Jon Batiste Leaving 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert'?Last night, Stephen Colbert announced on national television that former bandleader Jon Batiste would be leaving "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" and would be replaced immediately. According to the Late Show host, Batiste has decided to leave the show to "pursue personal and professional interests." "It's for all the best reasons, including to continue sharing his art to the world," Stephen said. The 35-year-old musician joined the late-night show when Stephen Colbert took over for David Letterman seven years ago. Since then, Batiste has been leading the show band for over hundreds of episodes. Batiste's music career has recently taken off after bagging 5 GRAMMYs (including Album of the Year) from his first time being nominated. He was the most-nominated artist of the year with 11 nods. "We've been so lucky to have a front row seat to Jon's incredible talent for the past seven years. And will we miss him here? 'Yeaaa!' But we're happy for you, Jon, and I can't wait to have you back on as a guest with your next hit record. I love you," Colbert explained. Apart from being a GRAMMY-Winning artist, Jon was also recognized with an Academy Award for his amazing work in the Disney Pixar film "Soul" where he won Best Original Score in 2020. However, Batiste would not be leaving the show without someone as genius as him to fill in. READ ALSO: Ariana Grande Music Career The Reason Why Jennette McCurdy Friendship Ended? Louis Cato Replaces Jon Batiste on 'Late Show with Stephen Colbert'Moments after announcing Jon Batiste's departure from the show as the bandleader, Stephen Colbert officially announces that Louis Cato will fill Jon's position. Cato has dipped his toes in the water already all summer as Batiste's absence on the show promoted him atop. The "Stay Human" band, will be retained on the show, but will now be called "The Late Show Band." "Louis has done a great job this summer, and he is very humble, so he won't say this. But I will. He's a musical genius. He can play basically every instrument over there. Give him an afternoon, he'll learn how to play Mozart on a shoehorn," Colbert complimented. Louis Cato is a GRAMMY-nominated and internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter. READ ALSO: Barlow & Bear Pulls The Plug on 'Unofficial Bridgerton Musical' Concert: Here's Why © 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. FANS of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert are used to seeing Jon Batiste on the hit series. But he has been absent from the show since May 2022, and fans want to know when he'll be back. Jon Batiste has been missing from The Late Show with Stephen ColbertCredit: SplashJon is known for being the nightly bandleader and musical director on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. It was previously speculated he is taking the summer off from the evening show to focus on his wife, Suleika Jaouad. The award-winning singer has previously opened up on his partner’s ongoing battle with cancer after she was diagnosed with leukemia for the second time in early 2022. Colbert announced that Batiste is officially leaving the show after seven seasons, and said Louis Cato would be taking over the position. “Jon has decided to leave the show,” Colbert said. “But it’s for all the best reasons, including to continue sharing his art with the world.” He continued: “We have been so lucky to have a front row seat to Jon’s incredible talent for the past seven years.” “But we’re happy for you, Jon, and I can’t wait to have you back on as a guest with your next hit record. I love you." When will Jon be back on the CBS show?Since Jon's departure was announced, fans have been speculating when he will return to the stage. During an episode of the late night show, Stephen revealed that he would be returning sometime in September. At this time, it remains unclear what exact day he will be returning. When did he join The Late Show with Stephen Colbert?Jon joined the show back in 2015 and has been a fan favorite ever since. The 35-year-old was born on November 11, 1986, and grew up in Louisiana. The Batiste family has established themselves in New Orleans as a musical dynasty, and Jon has been playing many instruments since childhood. By the age of 17, Jon released his debut album: Times in New Orleans. He went on to study at the Julliard School, ultimately graduating with a Master's degree in Jazz Studies. The talented musician has gone on to perform with several big-name celebrities, from Prince to Stevie Wonder. Batiste is also a member of a New Orleans musical dynasty. When he was just eight years old, Batiste played percussion and drums with his family’s band, the Batiste Brothers Band.
Jon Batiste. Photo: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert/YouTube Jon Batiste is about to have a whole lot more “Freedom.” The musician and bandleader is leaving The Late Show With Stephen Colbert after seven seasons of leading the house band, his group Stay Human. Batiste had taken the summer off to focus on his solo career after a surprise showing at the Grammys this year, where he was nominated for 11 awards and won five — including Album of the Year for We Are. Colbert announced the news of Batiste’s departure on August 11, saying that guitarist and interim bandleader Louis Cato would assume that role fully. “I hope he’s cutting his new album, and I hope it’s called More Grammys, Please,” Colbert joked of Batiste. “We’re happy for you, Jon,” he added, “and I can’t wait to have you back on as a guest with your next hit record.”
Batiste was handpicked by Colbert to join The Late Show when the comedian took it over in 2015. Leaving the show won’t just give Batiste more time to record music and work on projects like writing the score to Soul, which won him an Oscar in 2021. It could give him the time to tour, something he hasn’t been able to do extensively with his bandleader role. But the real question is: If Batiste can earn 11 Grammy nods in one night while balancing The Late Show, what can he do as a full-time soloist? Jon Batiste Leaving Late Show to Win Some More Grammys |