The Scrappy Little Nobody author and Pitch Perfect actress showed off her vocal chops again on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Tuesday night, whipping out a short version of the appropriately titled “I’m Still Here” from the Broadway show Follies.
“2016’s been kind of a b***h, and I keep thinking about this song… it’s just one of those songs that makes me feel empowered and like we’ve been through it,” she explains of her choice before she sings “I’ve run the gamut, A to Z, three cheers and damn it, c’est la vie. I got through all of last year—and I’m here.” Colbert admitted that although he was familiar with the tune, this time, he didn’t prepare to sing with her at all, as he’s done on past shows.
“I’m a little busy and, well, manic about the election, and I didn’t have a chance to learn a song,” the host apologized in advance. At least Kendrick was there to save the day with music, as usual. The two also chatted about Kendrick’s new book, and Colbert reads out an embarrassing excerpt in which she shares that she always imagines talk show hosts in somewhat compromising positions.
Watch the two navigate their mutual mortification, above.
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Write to Raisa Bruner at raisa.bruner@time.com