Jay Leno recalls how Taylor Swift's kind gesture helped a family reconnect: 'She was the nicest person'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jay Leno, who recently made headlines with updates about his health, is now reflecting on a heartwarming moment that showcased Taylor Swift's true character. 

Recalling a road rage incident, Leno praised the 'Love Story' singer as one of the nicest people he's encountered, revealing how her actions played a pivotal role in bringing happiness to a family.

This moment not only highlights Swift's impact through her music but also her genuine connection with young fans, playing a significant role in their joy and well-being.

Jay Leno recalls unforgettable incident involving Taylor Swift

In an exclusive sneak peek from TMZ’s Merry Elfin's Christmas special, 74-year-old television host Jay Leno recalled an unforgettable incident involving Taylor Swift. The road rage encounter led to a heartwarming moment, with young fans getting the chance to meet the pop superstar at 'The Tonight Show', which Leno hosted from 1992 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2014.

Leno shared the story, saying, “I'll tell you a road rage story involving Taylor Swift. 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.”

When the driver wasn’t happy with Leno’s solution and gave him the finger, Leno continued, “I pulled to the light, and I looked at the guy, and I go, ‘What was that all about?’ 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 continuing the confrontation, the driver surprised Leno by starting to cry, admitting, “You’re right, man.” Leno, seeing an opportunity for kindness, explained, "Look, I got Taylor Swift on the show next Wednesday. Do you daughters like Taylor Swift?’"

The man responded enthusiastically, “Oh, they love Taylor Swift.” Leno then offered, “I'll give you two tickets to the show and you come back and meet [her].”

When the family arrived backstage, the driver's daughters were overjoyed and Taylor Swift greeted them with warmth and generosity. Leno praised Swift’s kindness, saying, “I told Taylor the situation. She gave him swag [and] talked to the girls. I mean [she] was the nicest person.” He even joked that, thanks to the experience, the driver’s children were now back on his side.

What happened to Jay Leno?

Jay Leno is currently recovering after falling down a 60-foot hill following his performance at the Palace Theatre in Greenhouse, Pennsylvania, on November 15.

While hosting an amfAR benefit at the Wynn Las Vegas last week, Leno told reporters on the red carpet that he was "feeling good" during his recovery from the fall, adding, "I've got a broken wrist, but I'm all right."

In a November 19 interview with TMZ, Leno explained the circumstances of his injury. He was trying to take a shortcut to a restaurant that was inconveniently located at the bottom of a hill.

The classic car enthusiast shared that he "didn't have a car" at the time and wanted to avoid a "mile-and-a-half" walk to the restaurant. 

"I said, 'Well, the hill doesn't look that steep - it's about 60-70 feet - let me see if I can go down the hill'," he recalled.

Unfortunately, Leno lost his balance, saying, "Boom, boom, boom - I rolled down the hill, hit my head on a rock, knocked me in the eye."

Despite the accident, Leno remained determined and made it to his show the following day at the Yaamava Theater in Highland, California.