Alabamians wow as surprise musical guests for debut Late Show with Stephen Colbert

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September 10, 2015

While Tuesday night’s inaugural episode of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” which now airs on CBS weeknights at 10:35/11:35c, was memorable night for fans of comedian and political jokester Stephen Colbert, Alabamians may have recognized a couple of familiar faces jamming on stage during the epic musical performance ending.

That’s right, the surprise all-star musical lineup, which was fronted by Mavis Staples, included Alabamians Paul Janeway, lead vocalist for St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and Brittany Howard, lead singer and guitarist for Alabama Shakes. The two joined Colbert’s house band to cover Sly and the Family Stone’s 1968 hit “Everyday People”.

The surprise lineup also included Buddy Guy, Ben Folds, Derek and Susan Tedeschi.

“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” replaces long running “The Late Show With David Letterman” which aired on August 30, 1993 coming to a conclusion in May of this year.

GOP Presidential Candidate Jeb Bush and actor George Clooney were Colbert’s first guests, a format spectrum that may hint to what kind of show Colbert wants to bring to the network talk show genre.

Both Janeway and Howard, with their explosive bands, are turning heads toward the Yellowhammer State and its rich musical history in rock n’ roll, soul, rhythm and blues.

The full episode of Tuesday night’s debut can be watched on CBS.com here.