> At a Glance
> – Jimmy Kimmel says “stick to your guns” is the top lesson he learned in 2025
> – His show returned less than a week after an indefinite September suspension
> – He won Best Talk Show at the Jan. 4, 2026 Critics Choice Awards
> – Why it matters: The host’s candid reflection reveals how controversy and personal loss shaped his outlook on perseverance
Jimmy Kimmel stepped onto the Critics Choice Awards stage Jan. 4 with fresh hardware-Best Talk Show-and a hard-earned motto: “stick to your guns.” The win caps a turbulent stretch that tested both the program and the host.
From Suspension to Renewal
Last September, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was yanked off air “indefinitely” after backlash over monologue remarks about Charlie Kirk’s murder. The blackout lasted under a week before ABC reinstated the show. Four weeks later, the network renewed the late-night staple for another year.
Kimmel distilled the rollercoaster into one takeaway while speaking with Ethan R. Coleman for News Of Los Angeles:
> “I learned a lot of lessons. I guess, ‘Stick to your guns.’ That’s the biggest lesson I learned last year.”
A Year of Personal Loss
The professional upheaval was followed by private grief. Two months after the suspension, longtime Jimmy Kimmel Live! bandleader Cleto Escobedo III-Kimmel’s best friend since age nine-died at 59.
Kimmel honored him on Instagram:
> “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true.”
Family Goals for 2026
On the awards-carpet, Kimmel admitted he’s skipping New Year’s resolutions. When wife Molly McNeary polled the family on 2026 intentions, he hoped the kids would “mess it up” before his turn.
> “I don’t have any intentions this year. I just kinda keep going, that’s it.”
Key Takeaways
- Best Talk Show win arrives weeks after renewal and suspension
- Kimmel credits perseverance mantra for navigating 2025 controversies
- No grand 2026 plans-just “keep going” after a bruising year
The mantra that carried him through cancellation scares and personal tragedy now doubles as his only goal: keep the show-and himself-moving forward.
