Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

More than comedy: Chonda Pierce brings laughter in difficult times

  • September 23, 2021
  • Tracy Riggs
  • Alabama, Latest News

More than comedy: Chonda Pierce brings laughter in difficult times

Chonda Pierce isn’t sure if the title “Queen of Clean” fits.

When the comedian, actor and author first heard it, she said she was concerned people “might think I had a housekeeping business. But if they saw my house, they might think differently,” she joked.

Early in her career Pierce also was labeled a “Christian comedian.”

“I didn’t know that was going to be such a controversy at the time. But when I really gave my life to Christ, I was proud of it. When I found out I wasn’t going to hell, I was really excited,” Pierce said with a laugh. “I didn’t know it would have limitations down the road. But at this point, doing this for 27 years, I’m very proud of the work I’ve done and what we’ve accomplished and the strides we made for comics now.”

Though she is obviously experienced and talented in the field, she is still nervous about an upcoming tour.

‘Needed’ more than ever

“Life is so hard. [While worrying about it], it just seemed like out of the clear blue I had this complete calm that my job has never been more needed in my entire career. That gave me nerves because now I really, really need to be funny!

“I guess of all the titles out there somebody gives you in my line of work, I pray they just say I’m funny.”

Though highly successful by the world’s standards, even being recognized as the best-selling female comedian of all time by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Pierce knows where her success originated.

“For me, it really happened almost supernaturally,” she recalled “[I]t was almost an amazing script of how the pieces were put together in order for me to get an audience. Back in the day, we didn’t have social media; we didn’t have cell phones. Unless you were a strong force in Hollywood, it just wasn’t going to happen.”

During Pierce’s heyday when she was selling out arenas, one day she was singing “Mercy Saw Me” for a mic check and noticed men wearing orange jumpers. She remembered that local prisoners were working at the arena.

“I saw them stop what they were doing and sit on their chairs, with many of them putting their faces in their hands, just weeping. I think it was one of the first times I realized that my show was not just about comedy — that it was about reaching people’s hearts. I’ll never forget the scene of that and it has reminded me often of why I do what I do.

“The comedy has always been the opening act; it’s always been about something a little bit more than just being funny.”

Favorite verse

Pierce’s favorite verse also keeps her on track: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing” (John 6:63a).

“That really keeps my ego in check. It’s like, don’t listen to your own press too much,” Pierce said. “Don’t get puffed up when the crowd is really big. Or … don’t get depressed when it’s not.

“It’s not really about our jobs or our mental state or our physical being. It’s about the condition of our heart. It’s like that verse. How you feel about yourself, the mistakes you’ve made in your past, how funny you are, how not funny you are … that puts everything in perspective.”

Pierce never starts a tour without knowing its direction, and this year she will address how tiring COVID-19 debates are and what’s happening worldwide.

“It dawned on me that many times we run to the wrong place first to get information,” Pierce said. “I realized that needs to be the message: where do we really run? You talk to your doctors; you try to be really smart; you listen to your pastor; but at some point, you’re going to have to trust your heart and trust God.”

Though Pierce recognizes the power of laughter and appreciates non-message-driven comedians, God never allowed her to go that route.

“I have always felt like my stories, my pain, my testimony are to mean something. You have a whole world of people who are going to need your encouragement. They are going to need to know what it’s like to start a climb in the writing business and struggle with a bad day, and yet still do the job. People are needing our testimonies more than ever.

“People measure success in a lot of odd and different ways. But if you can buy a meal today because of what you do in your gifting, then you’re successful. I look at people with the mansions and all that stuff in Hollywood and they don’t look all that happy to me. Just being able to go down to the diner or feed my family or put one of my kids in school because of the art of comedy, I’ll feel greatly successful.”

Pierce’s nationwide tour began Sept. 16 and runs through Nov. 14. To find dates and more information about her work, including DVDs, CDs, books, movies and other merchandise” visit www.chonda.org.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Disaster Relief leaders across U.S. meet, prepare for 2023
    Disaster Relief leaders across U.S. meet, prepare for 2023
    February 1, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • First Person: God was faithful to missions trailblazer George Liele; I believe He’ll be faithful to me
    First Person: God was faithful to missions trailblazer George Liele; I believe He’ll be faithful to me
    February 1, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • 2023 SBC Annual Meeting: Pre-registration now open
    2023 SBC Annual Meeting: Pre-registration now open
    February 1, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Disaster Relief leaders across U.S. meet, prepare for 2023

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Jason Yarbrough kicked off his first year as state disaster relief director for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma by

First Person: God was faithful to missions trailblazer George Liele; I believe He’ll be faithful to me

A missions trailblazer — that’s who George Liele was.  He was born into slavery. His owner freed him so he could pursue God’s call on

2023 SBC Annual Meeting: Pre-registration now open

Pre-registration is now open for churches to pre-register messengers for the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, set for June 11–14 in New Orleans. Pre-registration

What can a church learn from Krispy Kreme about advertising?

Whether doughnuts are healthy or not is another subject, but I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t like Krispy Kreme. Churches buy them by

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel