Jonathan Michael Batiste (born November 11, 1986)[2] is an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, bandleader, television personality and actor.

[3] He has recorded and performed with artists including Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Willie Nelson, Lenny Kravitz, ASAP Rocky, Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey, Roy Hargrove, Juvenile, and Mavis Staples.

Batiste appeared nightly with his band, Stay Human,[4] as bandleader and musical director on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from 2015 to 2022.

[15] Batiste further developed his piano skills by transcribing songs from video games such as Street Fighter Alpha, Final Fantasy VII and Sonic the Hedgehog.

Batiste's career performances include a tribute to Chuck Berry and Fats Domino during the 60th annual Grammy Awards (performing alongside Gary Clark Jr.); the Kennedy Center Honors' tribute to Carmen De Lavallade; the Concert for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama; the National Anthem at the 2017 NBA All Star Game; and Opening Night of the 2017 US Open.

He has curated the Global Citizen Advocacy Concert with Tom Morello and the Louis Armstrong Wonderful World Festival in Queens, N.Y. Batiste was cast in the HBO television series Treme, appearing as himself in seasons 2, 3, and 4.

In 2005, Batiste began performing regularly in New York with his Juilliard peers, bassist Phil Kuehn and drummer Joe Saylor.

[23] In 2011, Stay Human released the album MY N.Y., which was recorded in its entirety on New York City Subway trains, an idea that came to Batiste after questioning how to connect with people.

On June 4, 2015, it was announced that Jon Batiste and Stay Human would serve as the house band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

[6] On the show, Batiste and Stay Human have performed alongside Billy Joel, Will Smith, Wynton Marsalis, John Legend, Grace VanderWaal, and Nas.

[27] In June 2020, Batiste took part in the Juneteenth celebration in Brooklyn, New York with a day of protests, marches, rallies, and vigils to "celebrate, show solidarity, and fight for equal rights and treatment of Black people.”[28] Performing on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library, Batiste was joined by Matt Whitaker in a performance presented in partnership with Sing For Hope.

[35] In October 2021, he made a surprise performance at night singing "Like a Prayer" in the streets of Harlem, along with Madonna, promoting the release of her concert film , Madame X.

[42] In February 2025, Batiste performed the national anthem at Super Bowl LIX accompanied by deaf actress Stephanie Nogueras in American Sign Language.

[18] Batiste was born into a family active in the struggle against racial segregation in the United States;[44] his grandfather, David Gauthier, was president of the Louisiana Postal Workers Union, involved in the 1968 labor strike sponsored by the Memphis, Tennessee, Department of Public Works for higher wages and safer working conditions.

[46] Batiste is a supporter of civil rights, the fight against racism, participating, publicly, in numerous demonstrations, including the marches promoted by the Black Lives Matter movement.

[47] Following the murder of George Floyd in June 2020, Batiste organized peaceful protests in New York City, against police brutality in the United States.

Batiste is also among the sponsors of several initiatives, including Innocence Project, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and The Legacy Museum.

[50] On April 3, 2022, the couple revealed, in an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning, that they had been married in a private ceremony at home, in February 2022.

[52][53][54] Batiste has received several accolades, including being placed in the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 music list,[90] and being named Grand Marshal of Endymion Parade in New Orleans in 2018.

In May 2017, Batiste received an honorary degree from Salve Regina University for his musical achievements and contributions to Newport's 2014 International Jazz Day.

[8] In 2020, Batiste, along with Nine Inch Nails band members Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composed the score for the Disney and Pixar animated film, Soul.