Jon Batiste Reflects on Music, Mentorship, and the Loss of Late-Night Platforms for Artists

Jon Batiste has always been more than a musician — he’s a modern-day Renaissance man. From leading the house band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to winning an Oscar for Disney’s Soul and sweeping five Grammys for his genre-blending album We Are, Batiste has cemented himself as one of the most versatile voices in contemporary music. Whether he’s performing jazz, R&B, classical, or Americana, his mission remains the same: to connect people through the spiritual power of sound.

Now, with his ninth studio album, Big Money, Batiste is once again expanding the boundaries of his art. Featuring collaborations with legends like Randy Newman, Andra Day, and No I.D., the album digs deep into the roots of American music — blues, folk, gospel, and everything in between. “This record is about the essence of where music comes from,” Batiste explains. “I wanted to honor the porch players, the coal miners, the sharecroppers — people who made music out of life itself.”

A Journey Through Roots and Soul

Currently on a nationwide tour that runs through October, Batiste is deliberately steering away from major cities and instead performing in smaller markets such as St. Augustine, Florida, and Akron, Ohio. His reasoning is simple: he wants to meet people where they are. “I love playing in places that aren’t as politicized as L.A. or New York,” he says. “You’ll find all kinds of people in those rooms — different ideologies, different walks of life — but they all feel the same energy. It’s unexpected, and it hits people in a good way.”

That “energy” is what Batiste calls the circus of love, a phrase that has become a banner for his tour. “The circus of love is like an old tent revival,” he explains. “When we come to town, we set up our tent, and under that tent, there’s love, there’s joy, there’s music. It’s about creating community for one night — a place where people can feel something real.”

Collaborating with Icons

Batiste’s creative reach extends far beyond his own records. He recently collaborated with Beyoncé on Cowboy Carter, contributing to the powerful opening track, “American Requiem,” which also served as the opening number of her live shows. Hearing his work performed on that scale was surreal. “It was amazing to hear it open her show,” he recalls. “Beyoncé is still underrated for what she’s accomplished. Seeing how she performed that song inspired me to bring the same energy into my own shows.”

He’s also recently worked with Andra Day on the soulful duet “Lean on My Love,” a highlight from Big Money. Their onstage chemistry is undeniable, something Batiste attributes to genuine connection. “It’s just real,” he says. “When people are easy with each other, that energy translates into the music. There’s a tradition of great duets — Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday, Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye — and when you find the right partner, you just know. Andra and I resonate on that frequency.”

Honoring the Greats

Batiste never forgets the shoulders he stands on. Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell, and Stevie Wonder are just a few of his lifelong inspirations. Over the years, he’s developed personal relationships with many of his heroes — and he cherishes every moment. “My greatest joy at this stage is that I can call my heroes and they actually pick up,” he laughs. “I cold-called Randy Newman once. We hadn’t talked in a while, but that call led to us recording ‘Lonely Avenue.’ You never stop learning from people like that.”

Joni Mitchell, in particular, holds a special place in his heart. “Joni is a revelation,” he says warmly. “We got to know each other over the last year, especially when she performed again at the Hollywood Bowl. I even joined her for some of her ‘Joni Jams’ at her home. She loves movie songs — her favorite is ‘Unchained Melody’ from Ghost. The way she approaches a song, with that depth and attention to feeling, is something we can all learn from.”

Love and Resilience

When asked about the emotional core of his new music, Batiste doesn’t hesitate to point toward his wife, writer Suleika Jaouad, who continues to undergo treatment for leukemia. “If you listen to songs like ‘Do It All Again’ or ‘Lean on My Love,’ you can imagine me singing them to her,” he says softly. “Our love inspires everything I do. She’s living her life to the fullest, and we speak life in our house every day. The Bible says life and death are in the power of the tongue — and we choose life.”

The End of a Late-Night Era

For millions, Batiste became a household name during his seven-year run as bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. But beyond comedy and celebrity interviews, the show offered something deeply musical. “That experience changed my life,” Batiste reflects. “When I started, I was only three years out of college. Suddenly, I was leading a band, playing five nights a week, 202 shows a year. It was an education like no other.”

Batiste and Colbert developed a genuine friendship during their years together, often sharing reflective on-air moments that blurred the line between talk show and intimate conversation. When he left the show in 2022, it felt like the end of an era. “It was the close of a chapter,” he says. “But I’ll always be grateful for that time.”

With the gradual decline of traditional late-night television, Batiste laments the loss not just for hosts, but for the entire musical community. “The band is the spiritual power source for those shows,” he says with conviction. “When you’re at home watching, the energy that comes through your screen — that joy, that rhythm — it all starts with the band. Losing that space in our culture is a sad thing. Late-night shows gave musicians a platform to be seen, to be heard, to experiment. Without them, the ecosystem of live music on television feels a little emptier.”

A Musical Mission

Still, Jon Batiste remains hopeful. Whether he’s playing a sold-out theater or a small-town venue, he believes in the transformative power of live performance. “Music has always been about communion,” he says. “It brings people together across divides. It’s not about fame or algorithms — it’s about spirit. And that’s something no industry shift can ever take away.”

As Big Money continues to resonate with audiences, Batiste’s message is clear: love, resilience, and authenticity remain his guiding lights. “We’re here to remind people what music can do,” he says. “It’s not just sound — it’s soul.”

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