When Margo Price performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 16, 2025, she could not have known she would be the program’s final musical guest before ABC announced an indefinite suspension. Her appearance, however, left a quietly powerful impression.

In an Instagram clip posted on September 16, Price shared footage of her performance of “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down” and reflected, “If this was the last word, I’m glad it was mine.” The moment gained added resonance because of the song’s defiant lines — “Keep all them fascists underground” — sung with palpable conviction.

ABC’s decision to halt the broadcast came after Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue on the episode containing Price’s set; his remarks followed the killing of Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk the previous week. The exchange provoked fierce debate across media and political circles. For coverage of the network’s announcement, see the reporting at CNN. Read more.

Kimmel’s on-air commentary prompted a swift response from several industry stakeholders. Nexstar — owner of multiple local NBC affiliates — said it would suspend the program pending further review, and Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr publicly warned affiliates about rebroadcasting the contested segment, characterizing the remarks as problematic in a letter to stations. For details on the FCC’s statement, see the Hollywood Reporter coverage. More here.

ABC’s suspension has drawn sharp criticism from free-speech advocates who view the move as troubling; at the same time, political figures welcomed the decision. Former President Donald Trump posted praise for the network’s action on Truth Social, framing the suspension as overdue.

For Price, the moment remains a bittersweet one: a musician offering an emphatic, principled performance that now stands as the show’s closing musical statement. Her post and the clip of the song have circulated widely, underscoring how a single performance can take on new meaning amid rapidly changing events.