Jay Leno Recalls Taylor Swift Being the 'Nicest Person' During Unusual Fan Encounter atThe Tonight Show(Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Jay Lenois looking back at a moment that showedTaylor Swift’s true colors.

In an exclusive sneak peek of TMZ’sMerry Elfin' Christmasspecial, the television host, 74, recalls how a “road rage” incident led to some young fans getting to meeting the pop superstar backstage atThe Tonight Show, which he hosted from 1992 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2014.

“I’ll tell you a road rage story involving Taylor Swift,” he begins in the clip. “I’m in traffic, a guy behind me, beep beep beep. I’m driving one of my old cars so I [indicate to] go around me.”

However, the driver wasn’t happy with Leno’s solution and gave him the finger.

(l-r) Singer Taylor Swift during an interview with host Jay Leno on November 22, 2010.Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

“I pulled to the light, and I looked at the guy, and I go, ‘What was that all about?’” he shares. “He starts swearing and that’s what I laid into him. I said, ‘Let me guess. What are you 52, divorce[d], your kids hate you, you’re bald? What was your greatest day? In high school?’”

Rather than fighting back against Leno’s notion, the driver had an unexpected reaction.

“The guy starts crying [and says] ‘You’re right, man.’ I go ‘Wait, wait, wait’ so I get out of my car [and] I get into his car,” he says. “I said, ‘Look, I got Taylor Swift on the show next Wednesday. Do you daughters like Taylor Swift?’ [He said], ‘Oh, they love Taylor Swift.’”

Leno says he then told the man: “I said, ‘I tell you what, I’ll give you two tickets to the show and you come back and meet [her].”

From left: Jay Leno and Taylor Swift.Paul Morigi/Getty; Neilson Barnard/Getty

Paul Morigi/Getty; Neilson Barnard/Getty

When they arrived backstage, the driver’s daughters were “ecstatic” and Swift, 34, was gracious to the family.

“I told Taylor the situation. She gave him swag [and] talked to the girls. I mean [she] was the nicest person,” Leno explains before joking that the driver’s kids now “liked him again.”

Last week, the 14-time Grammy winner once againshowed her generositywhen meeting fans following her boyfriendTravis Kelceand hisKansas City Chiefsteammates scoring a victory against Las Vegas Raiders at the Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 29.

She could then be seen smiling and waving at someone else in the crowd, beckoning them closer to the suite.The “Karma” singer then leaned even further out of the window as another young fan, who was sporting a Kelce jersey, approached. She then handed something to the little girl and posed with both fans for a photo, doing two thumbs-up as the girls smiled for the picture.

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TMZ’sMerry Elfin’ Christmasspecial airs Monday, Dec. 2 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.

source: people.com