Jimmy Kimmel Honors Cleto Escobedo With Heartbreaking On-Air Tribute

Jimmy Kimmel broke down in tears as he paid tribute to his longtime friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, during “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday, November 11.

The emotional moment came just hours after Kimmel announced Escobedo’s passing at age 59.

The beloved musician, who led the show’s house band, Cleto and the Cletones, had been a part of Kimmel’s life since childhood.

Fighting back tears, the host honored the man he called a great friend, father, son, musician and man.

At the start of Tuesday night’s episode, Jimmy Kimmel struggled to hold back tears as he told viewers about the loss.

“We’ve been on the air for almost 23 years and I’ve had to do some hard monologues along the way, but this one’s the hardest because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young,” he said.

The comedian went on to share that Escobedo wasn’t just a colleague but a lifelong friend.

“Everyone loves Cleto… everyone here at the show,” he said, his voice breaking. “We are devastated by this. It’s not… It’s just not fair.”

The heartbreaking moment set the tone for the night, as the host honored the man who had been by his side from the very beginning, from their early years in Las Vegas to their shared success on national television.

Following the emotional tribute, Jimmy Kimmel announced that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would pause production for two nights in honor of Escobedo.

“We’re going to take the next couple of nights off,” he told his viewers.

The TV personality explained that he and his staff decided to go through with the November 11 show because the musician wouldn’t have wanted them to miss interviewing guest Eddie Murphy.

Escobedo’s father, Cleto Escobedo Sr., performed with the band that night, while his mother watched from the audience.

The touching gesture made the tribute even more emotional for everyone present.

Earlier that same day, Kimmel shared an emotional message on Instagram, revealing the depth of their friendship.

He shared a photo of the late bandleader in a suit, standing on stage and holding a saxophone.

In the caption, Kimmel wrote, “Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III.”

He expressed deep sorrow over the loss, saying that describing himself and the team as heartbroken was an understatement.

The 57-year-old reflected on how inseparable they had been since he was nine years old and called it a dream come true that they got to work together every day.

Kimmel urged fans to “cherish your friends” and asked that they keep Escobedo’s wife, children, and parents in their prayers.

Shortly after, the comments section was filled with condolence messages from fans and celebrities alike.

Fellow comedian Wanda Sykes even shared her condolences, commenting, “Heartbreaking. So, very sorry.”

Escobedo’s musical journey was deeply rooted in family.

His father not only inspired his career but also performed alongside him in Cleto and the Cletones, playing the tenor and alto saxophone.

The 59-year-old once shared in a 2021 ABC Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month featurette that his father made great sacrifices for him.

“I play sax because he played sax when I was a kid — my dad sacrificed a lot for me,” he said per PEOPLE. “He quit playing just so he could be home with me and got a job as a busboy at Caesar’s Palace and worked there for 30 years.”

Before joining Jimmy Kimmel’s show, Escobedo had toured with Earth, Wind and Fire and Paula Abdul and even had his own record deal.

Kimmel even once called him a “child prodigy,” noting that while he wanted talented musicians, he mostly wanted someone he had chemistry with, and there was no one who fit that better than Escobedo.

Escobedo joined “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” as bandleader when the show premiered in 2003, turning their lifelong friendship into a professional partnership that lasted over two decades.

The late musician had once recalled how their collaboration began, sharing that he immediately said yes when asked to join the show.

“Jimmy called and said, ‘Hey man, I think I’m going to have this show, do you want to be my band leader?’ Of course, I was like, ‘Yes,’” Escobedo said in 2021. “It’s been the best gig ever.”

Through the years, his presence became a signature part of the late-night program, from the soulful music to the effortless chemistry between him and Kimmel.

Their connection, rooted in decades of shared memories, laughter, and mutual respect, made the show feel like a family.

As Kimmel tearfully said, the loss of his dear friend will forever leave a void on and off the stage.