“Ten Years Later, and This Performance Still Brings Viewers to Tears…” 😍🎶💖 When Stephen Colbert and James Taylor shared the stage for a breathtaking duet of “You Can Close Your Eyes,” nobody expected a late-night TV moment that would touch hearts for a decade. What began as a simple musical collaboration quickly became one of the most cherished performances in Late Show history, blending warmth, friendship, nostalgia, and pure musical magic into a few unforgettable minutes.

Stephen Colbert has been known to show off his musical chops occasionally during his late night career — but it’s usually with a wink. Last night, though, he joined James Taylor for a completely serious duet on Taylor’s classic song “You Can Close Your Eyes.”

“Something that I never anticipated when I started doing this kind of thing, is that I might be able to do the thing I’m about to do — sing a song with James Taylor,” Colbert said before singing. Clearly thrilled, he took the lead on the song (an audience request) as Taylor added harmonies and accompanied on guitar.

Watch the full performance below: