10 Christian, Country + Clean Comedians Guaranteed To Make You Laugh Out Loud
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We’ve all heard the old saying that laughter is the best medicine, and these days, there are some excellent practitioners tickling people’s funny bones. Christian comedy has found an audience beyond church walls, and Christian comedians like Chonda Pierce and Mark Lowry continue to have fans laughing uncontrollably during sold out shows everywhere.
Also, there’s always been a strong connection between country music and comedy that goes back many decades. Comedians Homer and Jethro were beloved Grand Ole Opry stars who began their successful career in the 1930s and won a Grammy for Best Comedy Performance – Musical in 1959 for “The Battle of Kookamonga,” their parody of Johnny Horton’s “The Battle of New Orleans.” More recently, the Grand Ole Opry invited two comedians to become members this year, and inducted Henry Cho and Gary Muledeer, both who were thrilled to be awarded the coveted membership. Major country record companies still champion comedians, with the most recent example being duo Austin and Colin, who just released a new song called “Guilt Tippin’” via BMG/BBR Music Group.
Here, we take a look at 10 of today's top clean, country and Christian comedians — some you'll know and some you may be seeing for the first time, but all will make you laugh!
10 clean, country and Christian comedians
1. Chonda Pierce
Often called “The Queen of Clean Comedy,” Chonda got her start performing as comedy legend Minnie Pearl at Nashville’s Opryland USA Theme Park, which launched many country and Christian music careers before it was turned into a shopping mall.
In addition to her standup comedy, Chonda is also a best-selling author, actress and television hostess. Her 2015 film, Chonda Pierce: Laughing in the Dark, was based on her battle to overcome depression. The Emmy award-nominee also recently starred as the lead in the inspirational movie Roll With It.
Chonda is also a noted philanthropist and founder of the Branches Recovery Center, which offers counseling and treatment to those with depression, anxiety and addiction, regardless of their ability to pay. She has also raised several million dollars for international relief organizations Compassion International, WorldVision, Food for the Hungry and Feed The Children.
2. Nate Bargatze
Nate Bargatze’s comedy draws heavily from life with his family, which has fueled two hit Netflix specials — 2019’s The Tennessee Kid, 2021’s Grammy nominated The Great Average American and 2023’s Amazon Prime Video special Hello World. Earlier this year in an interview with Fox Digital, Bargatze said he chose to be a clean comedian because he was raised in a Christian household and doesn’t want to disappoint his parents.
“I just can’t imagine cursing in front of my parents,” he said to Fox News. “I still just couldn't do that. So that's how I write. I think I write my comedy to — a lot of it is to — make my parents laugh. I want them to be proud and be like, ‘Oh, come watch my son do comedy,’ and not be offended by it." He continued, "I just don't have that in me to want to offend someone or make someone feel bad.” In April 2023, he set the attendance record at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena by drawing 19,365 attendees.
3. Mark Lowry
Though well known as one of the most successful Christian comedians, Lowry is also a songwriter of considerable depth, who penned the acclaimed Christmas hit “Mary Did You Know?” with his friend Buddy Greene. Also a singer, author and podcaster, Mark spent years singing baritone in Southern Gospel music’s award-wining Gaither Vocal Band. The Houston native has recorded over a dozen albums and still maintains a busy tour schedule. He livestreams "Just Whenever" several times a week, if not daily. He also co-hosts the “Dinner Conversations” podcast with Andrew Greer, staying active in the world of Christian comedians.
4. Henry Cho
A native of Knoxville, TN, Henry Cho has opened concerts for Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and other artists, as well as performed on The Tonight Show, The Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Huckabee and other major talk shows. He has also appeared in numerous films and television shows and can be heard regularly on Sirius XM radio. Cho’s comedy special, What’s That Clickin’ Noise, aired on Comedy Central and Netflix. He's also heard daily on Pandora and Blue Collar Radio. Sometimes referred to as “Mr. Clean,” in 2023, Cho was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, an honor that hadn’t been bestowed on a comedian since 1973.
5. Austin and Colin
This talented duo first became friends in Cincinnati when Austin heard Colin’s music and reached out to him about working together. They moved to Nashville where the joys and challenges of living in Music City provided fodder for the hilarious song “Welcome to Nashville,” a viral hit with over six million views that has since spawned “Welcome to Nashville Part 2” and Part 3.
The sequels were as enthusiastically received as the original, as the duo continue to chronicle Nashville’s explosive growth and the impact on the city. Austin and Colin recently signed a deal with BMG/BBR Music Group (home to popular artists Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll and Jason Aldean) and just released a video for “Guilt Tippin,’” a clever look at how tipping has changed in the wake of the pandemic.
6. Akintunde, also known as Ak
After working as a barber in his early years, Akintunde began performing standup comedy full time in 1995 and hasn’t looked back since. The writer, director, actor and radio personality from Savannah, GA hosts “The Akintunde Show” video and audio podcast and is featured daily on the syndicated radio show “Pastor Lenny’s Praise Party.” The jovial comic often includes characters from the Bible in his hilarious monologues and is one of our favorite Christian comedians.
7. Mike Snider
Like Chonda Pierce, Mike Snider got his start performing at Opryland USA, and then graduated to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. He was inducted as a member of the famed institution in 1990 by legendary comedian Minnie Pearl. A native of Gleason, TN, much of Snider’s comedy centers around his wife Sabrina, whom he affectionately calls Sweetie. Snider is also an acclaimed musician and won the National Banjo Championship in 1983. He was a cast member on Hee Haw from 1990 to 1996 and still performs regularly on the Opry.
8. Anjelah Johnson
A native of San Jose, CA, Anjelah Johnson is a former NFL cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders turned actress/comedian. She was previously a cast member on MADtv, which earned her an ALMA Award nomination for Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series. She’s had several comedy specials on Netflix, including Homecoming Show, which was filmed in her hometown San Jose.
She’s married to Christian rapper Manwell Reyes, and their union has fueled many of her standup routines as she’s shared hilarious tidbits about their honeymoon trip to St. Lucia and their experience buying their first home. Johnson became a first-time mom in June of 2023, so it’s a sure bet her baby girl will be informing future material.
9. Tim Hawkins
A native of St. Charles, Missouri, Hawkins is known for turning everyday life into laughs. His routines include monologues about marriage, parenting and homeschooling. In addition to stand-up, he’s also known for hilarious videos including “The Chik-fil-A Song,” “Yoga Pants,” “The Government Can” and “Cletus Take the Reel.” Hawkins performs over a 100 concert dates a year and has garnered millions of views online.
10. Williams and Ree
Bruce Williams and Terry Ree, also known as “The Indian and the White Guy,” met at Black Hills State University in South Dakota and have been performing as a comedy duo since the late 60s. They’ve shared stages with the Oak Ridge Boys, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks and many other country acts and have made numerous comedy albums and films. They’ve appeared on Hee Haw, Country Kitchen, Laff TV and Comedy Central. The duo still maintain a busy concert schedule and also serve as hosts of the Country Thunder music festivals.
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