Jimmy Kimmel Tears Up in Emotional Farewell to 2025: Reflects on ‘Strangest, Hardest Year’

In a poignant final episode of 2025, Jimmy Kimmel fought back tears during his opening monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, calling the year “the strangest, hardest” of his life as he thanked viewers for their unwavering support through professional turmoil and profound personal loss.

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Broadcast on December 18 from the show’s Hollywood studio, Kimmel, 58, began: “This has been a strange year. It’s been a hard year. We’ve had some lows, we’ve had some highs. For me, maybe more than any year of my life.” His voice cracked as he wiped away tears, admitting, “I’m crying already, I’m sorry.”

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The host expressed deep gratitude to fans: “On behalf of all of us at the show… this year, you literally pulled us out of a hole. We cannot thank you enough… personally.” This referenced the show’s brief six-day suspension in September, when ABC temporarily pulled episodes amid backlash and pressure over Kimmel’s comments on the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

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The suspension sparked national debate over free speech, with critics accusing the Trump administration and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr of influencing the decision. Viewer support surged upon the show’s return, boosting ratings significantly.

But the professional challenges paled against Kimmel’s devastating personal grief: the November death of his childhood best friend and longtime bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, at age 59 from complications following a liver transplant.

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Kimmel and Escobedo had been inseparable since age nine in Las Vegas. Escobedo led Cleto and the Cletones, the house band since the show’s 2003 debut. In a tearful tribute episode after his passing, Kimmel called it the “hardest” monologue of his career, urging viewers to “cherish your friends – we’re not here forever.”

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Reflecting on late-night’s role amid national division, Kimmel noted: “Sometimes it feels like we’re spinning our wheels… trying to wrap your head around these things that are so clearly wrong.” Yet he ended optimistically: “There is still much more good in this country than bad.”

The studio audience gave prolonged applause as Kimmel signed off for the holiday break.

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Jimmy Kimmel Live! returns in January 2026, with Kimmel recently signing a contract extension through 2027. His vulnerability has resonated widely, reminding fans of the humanity behind the humor in turbulent times.