Stephen Colbert accepted an Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series for the final season of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." The comedian expressed deep appreciation for his wife, Evelyn McGee Colbert, during his acceptance speech at the 2026 Emmy Awards on Monday evening. This marks a moment of celebration following a challenging period for the late-night host and his show.
Colbert, 62, acknowledged the recent cancellation of his CBS program, which aired its farewell episode in May. He described moving on from the show after an 11-year run as a difficult process. During his speech, he thanked the numerous individuals who contributed to the show's production over its more than a decade on air.
"Thank you so much on the behalf of the over 200 people who threw themselves at this show for 11 years to try to do the best show they possibly could for you," Colbert stated. He also highlighted the role of late-night television as a valuable training ground for emerging professionals.
He affectionately referred to his wife as his "favorite guest," his "only crew and my only guest during COVID," and his "only audience." He concluded his heartfelt tribute by saying, "Yours is the laugh I want for the rest of my life."
Colbert and McGee have been married since 1993 and have three adult children. The comedian hinted at future projects, suggesting he is keeping busy despite no longer hosting his late-night show. When asked about a potential return to late-night hosting, he remarked, "I think the Jimmys have got that locked down for right now," referring to fellow hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel.
Colbert's wife, Evelyn McGee Colbert, who was present on the red carpet, added a touch of humor to the evening, mentioning her husband's tendency to forget to share details about his work. She alluded to his involvement in screenwriting for the forthcoming movie "The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past," joking, "There's no internet in Middle-earth, my man."
The Emmy win is "The Late Show's" third during Colbert's tenure as host. The show had previously earned multiple accolades at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards earlier this month, including Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, competing against programs like "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver."
CBS announced the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in July of the previous year, intending to conclude its run in May 2026. The network stated the decision was financial and unrelated to the show's performance. Colbert took over hosting duties in 2015, succeeding David Letterman upon his retirement. The show had amassed 33 Emmy nominations prior to its final season's wins. The network praised Colbert, calling him "irreplaceable" and vowing to retire the "Late Show" franchise. They noted the challenging financial landscape of late-night television as a factor in the decision. Previous reports indicated the show was losing approximately $40 million annually.