Stephen Colbert airs a 2016 duet with John Prine he'd kept in reserve in case 'we have to cheer up the world'

Stephen Colbert and John Prine
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/The Late Show)

John Prine's family revealed Sunday that the songwriting legend has been hospitalized and put on a ventilator with COVID-19 symptoms. Stephen Colbert sent his thoughts to Prine and his family on Tuesday's Late Show. "And I'd like to share with you right now one of the happiest moments I've had on my show — or any show — and that's when John and I sang a duet back in 2016 that we never broadcast."

On stage with Prine — back when handshakes were a safe form of greeting — Colbert explained "we'll probably do this for the internet, unless, you know, something terrible happens and we have to cheer up the world on the TV show." That time is now, apparently. Watch them sing "That's the Way the World Goes Round" below. Peter Weber

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.