LOS ANGELES — HBO announced Monday that comedian Quincy Jones will headline a stand-up special to air this spring on the premium cable network.

What’s the big deal? In July, the 32-year-old Jones, an aspiring stand-up comedian, was diagnosed with Stage 4 mesothelioma cancer and given a year to live. He is undergoing chemotherapy and performing when he is well enough.

His friends Nicole and Mickey Blaine recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to help Jones realize his dream of starring in a stand-up special. The campaign quickly reached its $50,000 target and also generated a flurry of publicity for Jones.