Jay Leno to Host Nobel Peace Prize Concert on YouTube

Former ‘Tonight Show’ host will emcee Dec. 11 event, which will be carried for first time by digital video service

Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" set
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You can’t keep a good host down: Jay Leno just landed a new gig, emceeing the 22nd Annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway.

The Dec. 11 Telenor Arena event will honor the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its “decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011,” per a Monday media release. The award is given annually to an individual or organization whose work exemplifies a spirit of hope and leadership that will help promote peace in the world.

“There’s nothing more exciting than being awakened in the middle of the night by people with Norwegian accents who tell you that you’ve been chosen to host the Nobel Peace Prize Concert,” said Leno. “It is truly an honor, and I will do my best not to embarrass myself and my country. Plus I can’t wait to leave 80 degree weather in Los Angeles and go to Oslo, Norway in the middle of winter.”

Additional artists will be announced in coming days. Leno currently serves as host of CNBC series “Jay Leno‘s Garage,” which premiered in October.

“We’re thrilled to have Mr. Leno join us in Oslo for this indelible celebration of peace,” said Olav Njølstad, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute. “We are deeply committed to fostering a true sense of global community, and as such, it promises to be an entertaining evening of shared tribute, honor and humor.”

The Nobel Peace Prize has honored Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Barack Obama, Kofi Annan, and Al Gore, among others. The concert has taken place the following day for more than 20 years.

The concert is presented by Nobel Peace Prize Research & Information, produced by Warner Bros. in cooperation with Gyroand broadcast to a global audience in 100-plus countries.  For the first time, the concert will be live streamed via YouTube in real-time.

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