Jon Stewart Surprises Stephen Colbert With a Well-Deserved Gift

Published 05/20/2026, 2:33 AM EDT

via Imago

Jon Stewart had one of the most heartfelt tributes for his friend Stephen Colbert as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert nears its end. As part of the tribute, Stewart presented Colbert with a special power recliner chair and a touching performance by Andra Day. He appeared on the show as one of the several stars who have been visiting throughout the special farewell week.

Following appearances by Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver, Stewart also made an appearance to pay a heartwarming tribute with some help from Andra Day.

Stephen Colbert gets a tangible farewell from Jon Stewart

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Towards the end of the memorable episode on May 19, 2026, comedian and writer Jon Stewart joked that while many of Stephen Colbert's friends had sung songs or written poems to pay tribute to the host, he wanted to give him something more tangible in recognition of his years of contribution. Moments later, the staff brought out two power recliner chairs, which the pair immediately began testing out. As they slumped into the chairs, both Stewart and Colbert used the remotes to adjust the settings.

“The thing about these chairs is as you get comfortable in them, you start to think to yourself, ‘Am I going to have to expend energy to get out of it?'” he jokingly said.

Considering Colbert’s reaction, he seemed especially fascinated by the chairs’ features, including the vibration settings and other details. However, the best part of the segment came when Stewart revealed that he invited R&B and soul singer Andra Day to the show to complete the moment. The singer performed her hit song form 2015 'Rise Up,' as the two friends slowly elevated together in their recliners while holding hands.

Stephen Colbert Reveals Star-Studded Guest Lineup for His Final Week on ‘The Late Show'

This heartwarming moment was followed by yet another wholesome tribute by Julia Louis-Dreyfus during this farewell week.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Veep style tribute for Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert has often expressed his love for the comedy series Veep on his show. So when the show’s lead character, politician Selina Meyer, portrayed by actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, appeared on the program, she gave a special Veep-style tribute for the host. She even worked with the Veep writers to write a speech that her character, Selina Meyer, would have given to Colbert.

"I've been on this show multiple times, and I always thought you were Rachel Maddow. Are you not?" Louis-Dreyfus said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

During the speech, Louis-Dreyfus made several jokes, including calling Colbert as relevant as "the Bill of Rights,” among many others. This has been a week full of special tributes, with Jimmy Fallon serenading the host with a song, while John Oliver offered a more profane farewell tribute, and now Jon Stewart's more than comfortable recliners. And with the show nearing its final episode, the goodbyes can be expected to continue pouring in.

CNN Developing Stephen Colbert Documentary Following Late Show Cancellation

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

What do you think about Jon Stewart's tribute for Stephen Colbert? Let us know in the comments.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

ADVERTISEMENT

Pritha Debroy

690 articles

Pritha Debroy is an Entertainment writer at NetflixJunkie who can seamlessly switch between breaking down an NBA play and obsessing over the latest K-drama twist. She has written over 3,400 NBA and NFL articles, but her true joy lies in diving into Netflix’s trendiest shows—unpacking themes, stories, and yes, the occasional celebrity chaos. When she is not writing, you’ll find her devouring thrillers (anything by Freida McFadden is an instant yes), revisiting comfort classics like 10 Things I Hate About You and 27 Dresses, or hunting for her next binge-worthy series.

Edited By: Adiba Nizami

ADVERTISEMENT

EDITORS' PICK