Bruce Springsteen honours Stephen Colbert on ‘The Late Show’, lashes out at Donald Trump and the Ellison family
On the eve of the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Bruce Springsteen made a guest appearance to deliver support for the departing talk-show host.
Colbert’s final episode is scheduled to take place on May 21st. His exit was confirmed in 2025, which, according to CBS, was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night”.
However, it did notably coincide with Paramount, the owner of CBS, seeking federal approval from the Trump administration to complete its merger with Skydance.
Moreover, shortly before his exit was announced, Paramount, which is owned by the Ellison family, also settled a $16 million lawsuit with the president, a move Colbert described as a “big fat bribe” on air.
Many believe that Colbert’s criticism of Trump played a role in his exit, including Bruce Springsteen, who made this point when he appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 20th.
Before playing his protest anthem, ‘Streets of Minneapolis’, Springsteen said, “Stephen, I’m here in support tonight of Stephen because you’re the first guy in America whose lost his show because we’ve got a president who can’t take a joke. And because Larry and David Ellison feel they need to kiss his ass to get what they want.”
He added in solidarity, “Anyway, Stephen, these are small-minded people, they got no idea what the freedoms of this beautiful country are supposed to be about. This is for you.”
Springsteen then delivered a bone-chilling solo rendition of ‘Streets of Minneapolis’, a song that he wrote, recorded and released in a matter of days in January in response to the killings of Alex Pretti and Renée at the hands of ICE agents.
Fittingly, on the track, Springsteen blasts the administration and sings, “A city aflame fought fire and ice, ‘Neath an occupier’s boots, King Trump’s private army from the DHS, Guns belted to their coats, Came to Minneapolis to enforce the law, Or so their story goes”.
The guests for the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert are being kept under wraps, with the late-night veteran expected to bring out the big guns for his last hurrah.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.