John Denver & Cass Elliot – Leaving on a Jet Plane (Live, August 19, 1972)

On August 19, 1972, folk singer John Denver and Cass Elliot—best known as Mama Cass of The Mamas & The Papas—teamed up on NBC’s The Midnight Special for a heartfelt duet of Leaving on a Jet Plane. The broadcast captured a rare collaboration between two of the era’s most distinctive voices, blending Denver’s clear tenor with Elliot’s warm contralto in a performance that fans still treasure today.

Leaving on a Jet Plane was one of Denver’s earliest songs, written in 1966 while waiting at an airport. Originally titled “Babe, I Hate to Go,” it gained new life after Peter, Paul and Mary recorded it in 1969, taking it to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100—their only chart-topping single. The success introduced Denver to a wider audience as a songwriter, and he later made the song his own with recordings on his 1969 album Rhymes & Reasons and in countless live performances.

The 1972 duet with Cass Elliot came at a crossroads for both artists. Denver was beginning to break out as a solo performer, while Elliot was establishing her career beyond The Mamas & The Papas. On The Midnight Special, the chemistry between them was evident—sharing smiles and harmonies that gave the song an added intimacy. Elliot’s voice lent the tune a bittersweet depth, while Denver’s delivery anchored the longing of the lyrics.

The moment is made even more poignant knowing that Elliot passed away just two years later in 1974. This performance remains one of the few filmed collaborations between the two, preserving a glimpse of their artistry at a time when American folk-pop was shifting into the mainstream.

Today, Leaving on a Jet Plane endures as one of Denver’s signature songs, covered by countless artists and remembered for its aching simplicity. Yet this 1972 duet stands apart—not just as a showcase of two beloved singers, but as a fleeting moment in television history when folk music’s intimacy reached millions of viewers live.

Key Facts

• Song written by John Denver in 1966; originally titled “Babe, I Hate to Go.”
• Popularized by Peter, Paul and Mary in 1969, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• John Denver’s own recording appeared on his 1969 album Rhymes & Reasons.
• Duet performance with Cass Elliot aired August 19, 1972, on The Midnight Special.
• One of the few recorded collaborations between Denver and Elliot.
• Cass Elliot died in 1974, giving the duet historical and emotional resonance.