Jenny Jones is best known for hosting the nationally syndicated talk show "Jenny Jones,” but “talk show host” is just one of Jones’ many careers which have included waitress, bookkeeper, temp worker, fashion model, caterer, comedian, musician, singer, songwriter, author, and philanthropist.

Born to Polish immigrant parents, Jenny grew up in London, Ontario, Canada. Her entertainment career began as a teen when she toured Canada and the U.S. as a drummer in a rock ’n’ roll band. At the age of 19, she decided to move to Los Angeles and drove her Corvair convertible cross-country with no job, only one suitcase, and a set of drums. She quickly landed a job with an all-girl band and headed for Las Vegas. There she was spotted by Wayne Newton, who offered her a job as a backup singer and, within a month, appointed her the arranger for his backup vocals.

The two years Jenny worked with Newton gave her the confidence to forge out and form her own band, Jenny Jones and Company. Back in Los Angeles, it was during her stint as lead singer that Jenny began to discover her comedic talent. Between songs, she entertained the crowd with humorous observations and before long, audiences were requesting that she extend her comedy.

Jenny soon decided to pursue comedy as a full-time career. At night, she played the clubs for free; during the daytime, she supported herself by working as an office manager and by appearing as a contestant on such game shows as "Press Your Luck," "Match Game" and "The Price is Right." After five years of paying her dues on the comedy circuit, Jenny’s big break came in 1986 when she became the first woman ever to win the "Star Search" Comedy Grand Prize and a check for $100,000. The win, coupled with her talent, led to Jenny sharing billing with the likes of Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Dionne Warwick, Glen Campbell, The Pointer Sisters, Smokey Robinson, Kool and the Gang, Kenny Loggins and Gregory Hines, and performing in major venues from Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas to Radio City Music Hall in New York to the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

Following a one-year tour with Engelbert Humperdinck, whose audience was primarily female, Jenny developed a revolutionary comedy show for women called "Girls’ Night Out." The response to the show was phenomenal, setting new attendance records in theaters and clubs. The success of "Girls’ Night Out," combined with Jenny’s wide appeal to women, sparked national profiles in publications such as Time and People, and on television programs such as "20/20" and "Larry King Live." The "20/20" story caught the attention of numerous television producers, among them a Warner Bros. executive who proposed a daytime series showcasing her unique talent. Jenny relocated to Chicago and "Jenny Jones" went on the air nationally on September 16, 1991, making television history as the #1-selling new first-run talk show.

“Jenny Jones” set a new standard for daytime television as the first talk show to feature hip music acts such as Usher, Nelly, Ludacris, and Three Six Mafia (who made their first television appearance on Jenny’s show). “Jenny” was also the first daytime show to feature outdoor concerts, and its pre-taped vignettes and spoofs were among television’s best. Most notably, Jenny was known as the queen of makeovers – often taking her guests from “Geek to Chic.” After more than 2,000 tapings with close to 50,000 guests, Jenny’s talk show completed its successful run in 2003, joining the ranks of only a handful of daytime shows to sustain for over a decade.

In 1992, Jones went public with problems she had had with silicone breast implants, hoping to prevent other women from making the same mistake. Later that year, Jones founded the Image Foundation which provided much needed support and information to thousands of women having similar implant problems. After six surgeries, Jones finally had her own implants removed. She has also provided financial assistance to other women needing explantation surgery.

A longtime advocate for women's health, Jones has served as honorary chairperson for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's Chicago Race for the Cure, an annual event that raises awareness and money for breast cancer research. In the summer of 2000, Jenny donated a mobile mammography motor coach to Chicago's Cook County Hospital. The coach provides mammograms to underserved women and promotes breast cancer education at local health fairs and festivals.

Jones also funded her own scholarship program for disadvantaged students and has made substantial donations to Chicago area schools. She dropped out of high school at sixteen; yet despite her tremendous success, she felt it was important to get her high school equivalency later in life. In 1996, Jones aced her GED exam and always encourages young people to invest in their future by completing high school, learning job skills or pursuing college.

Jones has quietly donated millions in the past to various causes. Her generosity spans from surprising family, friends, and co-workers with cars, homes, and trips all over the world, to donating all of her biography and cookbook profits to breast cancer research. A former assistant to Jones, Dana Stephens, states, "Jenny's generosity was legendary among the staffers at her show." At Christmas, Jones routinely lavished her employees with diamond jewelry, vacations, cruises, TVs, computers, and thousands in cash. "But no gift compared to when she paid for my Chicago condo just weeks before my daughter was born," says Stephens. "She gave my brand new family a completely clean, fresh start. That gift leaves me speechless to this day."

Jenny’s biography, Jenny Jones: My Story was published in 1997 with 100% of Jenny’s profits going to breast cancer research. In 2006, her cookbook, Look Good, Feel Great was published and again, Jenny is donating 100% of her profits to breast cancer research at City of Hope.

Most recently, Jones established "Jenny's Heroes" a program where during 2008, through The Jenny Jones Foundation, she is giving a million dollars of her own money to individuals wanting to make a difference in their local community. Jones is giving up to $25,000 each to people who submit the best ideas on how they would use the funds to make a difference in others' lives. Thousands of people have applied and Jones reads every application herself and personally selects the final recipient of each grant. "There's no better feeling than to be able to help others," says Jones. "I'm blessed that my program will allow everyday people to become philanthropists and heroes in their own communities. It's amazing how much of a difference one person can make."

Jones resides in Los Angeles, California.