Robert Plant Performs on Late Show with Colbert

Robert Plant, the former frontman of Led Zeppelin, delivered a pair of performances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on April 9, 2026, blending tracks from his latest project with a reimagined classic from his rock past. Accompanied by his band Saving Grace, Plant took the stage at New York's Ed Sullivan Theater for "Higher Rock," a rootsy cover from their self-titled 2025 debut album, followed by an acoustic rendition of Led Zeppelin's 1969 hit "Ramble On."

The appearance came one day after Plant and Saving Grace concluded their North American tour with a show at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. During the broadcast, singer Suzi Dian joined Plant on vocals for "Higher Rock," originally written by Montana musician Martha Scanlan for her 2018 album The River and the Light. Dian also contributed accordion and harmonies to the bonus performance of "Ramble On," a staple in the band's live sets alongside other Zeppelin tunes like "Four Sticks" and "The Rain Song." The song's lyrics, inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, resonated with host Colbert, a noted Tolkien enthusiast who previously discussed the author's works with Plant on the show.