Comedian Jay Leno to headline the White House Correspondents Dinner

Soon-to-be "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno will headline the White House Correspondents Dinner in May.

The White House Correspondents Association confirmed Leno's appearances to the The Hill on Friday.

The Correspondents Association said that Leno was asked to emcee the event before he became embroiled in the controversy surrounding "The Tonight Show."

Leno — who retired as "Tonight Show" host late last year — was recently asked by NBC to take over his former 11:35 p.m. time slot in favor of Conan O'Brien, who has been on the job for just over six months.

NBC then proposed that Conan move his show back to 12:05 a.m. Leno previously hosted a primetime show that aired at 10 p.m. Both "The Tonight Show" under O'Brien and Leno's primetime gig suffered in the ratings for last-place NBC.

Conan refused to accept a move to 12:05, causing a high-profile tiff between the host and the network and inspiring fans to take sides between O'Brien and Leno.

O'Brien's final "Tonight Show" appearance will take place Friday. Leno will likely assume his old, yet new, duties after the Winter Olympics in March.