Jay Leno

CHAUTAUQUA, N.Y. (June 16, 2017) — Chautauqua Institution officials Friday announced acclaimed TV late night show host, comedian and Emmy Award winner Jay Leno will perform at Chautauqua Institution for the opening night of the 2017 season and the first performance in the Institution’s new Amphitheater.

Aretha Franklin was previously scheduled to perform. In a letter to Chautauqua ticket holders and friends, President Michael Hill said per doctor’s orders, Franklin cannot make the trip to Chautauqua for her scheduled performance.

“We, of course, express sincere get well wishes to Ms. Franklin on behalf of the entire Chautauqua family,” Hill said.

Leno is an admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much-in-demand corporate speaker, lovable TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder, philanthropist and Emmy Award winner.

Leno spent more than two decades as host of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and has been widely characterized as “the hardest-working man in show business.”

Leno was last in Chautauqua County in 2014 when he was the headliner of that year’s Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in Jamestown.

All tickets to the sold-out Aretha Franklin concert will be honored for the Jay Leno performance. Individuals wishing to return their tickets and gate passes for a refund due to this change in the schedule may call the Chautauqua Institution Ticket Office at 1-888-688-1960. The institution will not sell additional tickets to the opening night festivities unless it receives cancellations from current ticket holders.  For more information about the Jay Leno performance and updates on ticket availability, visit www.chq.org/Leno.

“Jay Leno is both a national and regional favorite, and we couldn’t be more excited that a talent of his character and accomplishment will help us to ring in the 2017 season at Chautauqua,” Hill said.

Hill said the Aretha Franklin performance will not be rescheduled this season.

More About Jay Leno

Acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much-in-demand corporate speaker, TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic, and philanthropist…Jay Leno is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in show business.”

Leno’s late-night television ratings domination included two decades as the host of the #1-rated “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” – he never lost a ratings year in which he served as host.

Leno, currently produces and is host of the CNBC Television series “JAY LENO’S GARAGE” now in its third season. “Jay Leno’s Garage” explores the world of cars, never forgetting that it’s the people behind the wheel who provide the real stories.  The series debuted in October 2015 and delivered CNBC’s most-watched first season in network history.  New episodes of “Jay Leno’s Garage” can be viewed on CNBC throughout the year.

The show is an outgrowth of JAY LENOS GARAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL which Leno produces and has an international following on the Web and has garnered several Emmy Awards and nominations for Outstanding Special Class–Short-Format Nonfiction Programs.

His new product line JAY LENO’S GARAGE ADVANCED VEHICLE CARE launched in December of 2016 and has been well received by the Automotive Industry worldwide. Products are available on www.lenosgarage.com.

When he’s not on TV, Leno performs more than 100 stand-up shows annually across the country and internationally; participates in numerous charity and corporate events, does voice-overs for animated series, pens children’s books, and writes a monthly columnist in Popular Mechanics. And in his “spare” time (as if he has any), he enjoys working on his collection of classic cars and motorcycles. In fact, he has built a number of cars, including an acclaimed eco-car in his eco-friendly green garage.

Leno is the recipient of other honors, including Emmy, People’s Choice, and TV Guide awards, Harris Poll selection as most popular star on television, the Hasty Pudding Award at Harvard University, a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and being the first person to drive the pace car of all major NASCAR events.

He and his wife Mavis, an ardent human rights activist, live in Los Angeles.