Community Chat

[golding76]

Admittedly, I am a fairly new admirer of Jon Batiste, whom I know as the bandleader  and delightful foil for Stephen Colbert's monologues on the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.  Batiste, I confess, always captured my interest.  Little by little over the last year, I've also become aware of his prominence as a highly respected musician, composer and singer apart from the Colbert show.  I guess I live under a rock to some degree.

But within the past half hour, I learned so much more about him.  Looking at a news site, I saw him pictured with someone named Suleika Jaouad.  They are pictured at the Grammys because Batiste's album We Are has been nominated for Best Album this year.  I am uncertain if the photo is from this year's nomination or a previous year's nomination for Batiste.  Why am I uncertain?  Because Ms. Jaouad (now Mrs. Batiste) is ailing.

Never shy about admitting I do not know about someone or something, I had to look up who Suleika Jaouad is.  Of course she is a very special lady; she had to be to capture Batiste's interest and affection, in my humble opinion.

A Princeton graduate, Ms. Jaouad "is an American writer, advocate, and motivational speaker.  She is the author of the "Life, Interrupted" column in The New York Times and has also written for Vogue, Glamour, NPR's All Things Considered and Women's Health. 

"When Jaouad was diagnosed with cancer in 2011, doctors said she had only a 35% chance of surviving in the long-run. She survived and subsequently writes and speaks extensively about her medical experiences. Her Emmy Award-winning column, "Life, Interrupted" was part of the New York Times Well blog."  [Source: Wikipedia]

Sadly, she has been diagnosed once again with leukemia.  Oh my.  The two met at band camp and have loved one another for eight years before their newly disclosed marriage in February 2022.

I'm wishing them luck in two categories.

Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad 

Below is the photo I saw today.  I hope it is current.

[deepwaterdotter]

Wishing them God's blessings for many years of good health and happiness.  

[Greeneyedlady21]

@golding76 They were on CBS Sunday Morning today. You can watch the entire show online on the CBS web site. I love that show, watch it every Sunday and I always learn so much.

[golding76]

Greeneyedlady21, thank you so much for this information.  Suddenly, I and the world are becoming aware of them as a couple.  (However, I seem to be lagging behind the times lately, so others probably have known about this lovely couple for a while.)

I am looking forward to watching them as a couple.  So much "new" in one day!  

[chickenbutt]

I also only know Jon Batiste from The Late Show. 

He always seems like such a nice guy to me.   I didn't know anything about his personal life, though.   I hope his wife will be ok!!  They are a lovely couple.

[golding76]

Greeneyedlady21, I just watched the clip from the CBS interview.  It was heartwarming; their love radiates through.

Of course, the viewer is left with a certain sadness because of the darkness that they are trying to obliterate with the light of their love.  Like Jon Batiste, I hope this second diagnosis is just a "bump in the road," as he put it.

[Vivian]

I followed her journey the first time. I didn't know she had a recurrence and that Jon Batiste and she were married. They are both very strong people and I wish them only the best.

[Pearlee]

They got married in February, after  being together  8 years, when she got her diagnosis that the leukemia has returned.  He had planned to propose anyway and was already working with a jeweler designing a ring for her.

Oh how I admire him, marrying someone in the midst of a serious cancer battle. Sickness is not fun nor attractive.  in the CBS interview she is bald. Only in her 30s, she walks with a Rollator(a walker on wheels with a seat) that she decorated with colorful rhinestones to cheer her up.  I already thought Batiste is super cool from seeing him on Colbert, but he is way cooler than I ever thought before.

[spiderw]

golding76

Thank you for your post on Jon Baptiste.  I watch the Colbert show nightly and am very impressed by Jon's musical talent, it is extraordinary and he is gifted.  I have one of his CD"S. Aside from being a musical genius, he is a dignified humble gentleman.

 I was unaware of his wife's health issues and do hope she gets through her ordeal.  She sounds like a woman of intelligence and grace. Hopefully she and Jon will have many happy years ahead.

[depglass]

Maybe she is the reason John has been absent this week.  They have attributed it to his preparation for The Grammys.  I pray they get through this.  I'm so tired of sad news from Ukraine.