Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel has announced he will take an immediate break from his show following the devastating death of his bandleader and childhood friend Cleto Escobedo III.
The emotional announcement came during Tuesday night's taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where the 57-year-old host fought back tears while paying tribute to his friend of nearly five decades.
Emotional On-Air Tribute
Kimmel began his monologue by acknowledging this was the most difficult opening segment he had ever delivered in his 23-year tenure hosting the programme.
"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 to go," Kimmel told the studio audience.
The television personality revealed that Escobedo was 59 years old at the time of his passing, though the specific cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Kimmel emphasised the depth of their connection, stating they had been inseparable friends since they were just nine years old, growing up across the street from each other in their hometown of Las Vegas.
Decades-Long Professional Partnership
The musician had served as bandleader for Jimmy Kimmel Live! since its premiere in 2003, fronting the house band Cleto and the Cletones.
Remarkably, their professional collaboration lasted almost 23 years, with the pair working together daily throughout the show's entire run.
"He was proud of me. He loved me. He loved seeing all of this happen, being a part of it. He never took it for granted," Kimmel shared with the audience about his late friend.
The bond between the two men extended beyond their television roles. In a 2014 interview with the San Fernando Sun, Escobedo noted: "Jimmy is very loyal to his friends. He didn't have to ask me; I would have understood if he had hired some famous guy to be his musical director. But he trusted me, and I don't take it for granted."
Show Hiatus and Industry Impact
Kimmel confirmed that his show would be taking the next several nights off, though an exact return date has not been specified.
This isn't the first recent disruption to the programme's schedule. According to industry publication Variety, last Thursday's episode was cancelled due to Escobedo's declining health condition, indicating the musician had been quietly absent from the show for several months prior to his death.
Beyond his role on Kimmel's programme, Escobedo enjoyed an impressive musical career that included touring with major artists such as Paula Abdul, Marc Anthony, and Earth, Wind and Fire.
The musical legacy continues within his own family, as his father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., performs as a saxophonist in the same house band on Kimmel's show.
Kimmel first announced Escobedo's passing on Instagram earlier on Tuesday, writing: "Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III."
The television host concluded his social media tribute by urging followers to "cherish your friends" and keep Escobedo's wife Lori, their two children, and his parents in their prayers.
Escobedo had previously expressed his deep appreciation for the stability his role on Kimmel's show provided, telling reporters in 2014: "For me, as the father of young children, this is the perfect job. I can do other things if I want. But I want to stay here as long they will have me. I will always stay by Jimmy's side."
