The professional BIO can be found at: www.chonda.org Here’s the short version: Born in Kentucky. Lived in South Carolina until I was 15. Moved to middle Tennessee - been here ever since! My daughter, Chera is married to Craig. And my son, Zach - just turned 19! I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 25 years. Been doing this comedy thing for about 15 years or so - I started down this road because of "Cousin Minnie Pearl." I gotta a bunch of gold videos, one Platinum DVD, written a bunch of books, got a bus and I tour the country. Hummm... think I’ll keep going and see where this whole thing leads me!
Website
chonda.org
Influences
Bill Cosby, Sarah Cannon, Carol Burnett and my High School Drama teacher, Mrs. Mayo!
Members
CCA, SESAC, GMA, PKI and a few more letters here and there!
TV Shows
At Home - Family Net, Aspiring Women - Chicago, Live from the Grand Ole Opry, The 700 Club, Life Today with James Robinson, The Noon Show in Nashviile, The Homecoming Shows with Bill Gaither, The Mark and Kathy Show, The Gospel Music Network, CMT, TNN, Daystar, Fox, etc.
Films
Albums
Stayin’ Alive...Laughing (NoWhinning Records/Provident), The Best Bits! (Time/Life), A Piece of My Mind (INO Records), Have I Got A Story for You? (INO Records), Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (INO Records), On Her Soapbox (WORD Records), Four-Eyed Blonde (Myrhh Records), Havin’ A Girl’s Nite Out (Myrrh Records), Live! From the Second Row, Piano Side (SpringHill Records) BOOKS I’ve WRITTEN: It’s Always Darkest Before the Fun Comes Up (autobiographical/Zondervan), Roadkill on the Highway to Heaven (Zondervan), I Can See Myself In His Eyeballs (Zondervan) Tales from the Ark, Tales from the Manger (Children’s books/Zonderkidz), Laughing In The Dark (Simon & Schuster/Howard)
Chonda Pierce's Interests
General
I love to Golf - have some new Hybrid clubs but if anyone would like to send me a Nike Sasquatch that would be just dandy! (Tiger, please send me one!) I love a good book but have a bad habit of never finishing it - that drives my husband crazy! My favorite place in the world is the back porch of our Cabin at our in Ashland City (The Funny Farm). I love to play cards, Scrabble and work puzzles... And I am now addicted to Super Mario on the DS game thingy that my son gave me. Oh, I started scrapbooking but don’t have the time I wish I did to commit to it, so I just keep buying all the cute little accessories! I like to cook when I’m not rushed and I like to fish. Of course, I’m just as content sitting on the beach with my best friend, Alison doing absolutely nothing!
Music
I love a good lyric more than a loud beat! John Mayer is brilliant and I'm an old James Taylor fan! My favorite group is Casting Crowns. I love Russ Taff, Charles Billingsley, James Upton, Bryan Duncan and Michael O'Brien. Disco is my drive time music of choice and what I listen to as I get my show groove going! But, Kirk Franklin or Judy Jacobs can get me going any day of the week! I have some very talented friends and I just so happen to LOVE their music: Kim Hill, Nicole C. Mullen, Crystal Lewis, Bonnie Keen... I know it does sound like I'm a big name-dropper. But I I am blessed to have wonderful friends like Sandi Patty and Kathy Tricolli..and the list goes on! My favorite bass player is my nephew Jacob Courtney and the greatest pianist I've ever known is my best friend and sister-in-law: Doris.
Movies
Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, When Harry Met Sally, Shrek, Good Will Hunting... yes, it's a strange collection! My all time favorite movie: I AM DAVID. You must find it and watch it.
Television
24, 24, 24.... Lost, House and Smallville. Other than that -- the TV stays on Fox News or the Golf Channel!
Books
The list would be too long... let's just talk authors: My husband, Anne Lamott, Erwin McManus, Brennan Manning, Beth Moore, James Robison, Joyce Meyers, C.S. Lewis, Donald Miller (although I like him speaking as much as his books). My favorite Pastor: Max Lucado, John Grisham and more!
Heroes
Heroes are a dangerous thing... I admire so many people. But have only two real earthly heroes: My husband, David and my brother, Mike.
I met you several years ago at Hardin Simmons University, Abilene, Tx. I am thinking 10 years ago. (My little kids call it Harmin Swimmins. We swim there. My husband is alumni.) I had the opportunity to hug your neck and talk to you for a few mins. I told you that I had just divorced and that I had some very blue days while I was married. I never smiled or laughed. I was living in Okinawa, Japan at the time. My aunt sent me a Gather Homcoming tape. You were on this tape and you gave your testimony,told some funny stories and you sang. You made me laugh when I couldn't smile. I will never forget that for the rest of my life. I can't tell you how many times I watched that tape. I watched it everyday for a long time. Oh, and I just loved the hat that you were wearing. He he ! I am happily remarried now for 8 years. God is soooo AWESOME !!!!! Blessings to you, Sharla
p.s. I went to see you at ACU, Abilene, Tx. AWESOME !!!
I was just tickled that my wife and I tuned into Life Today and saw you on there. It was so cool. You have always been a favorite of my family and I. I was so sad I couldn't make the conference (CCA) this year, but hopefully we'll make it next year.
Chonda, I was surfing the web the other day and saw you....I forgot how funny you are and then I remembered that you were kind enough to add me as a friend along time ago and I'm happy to see your face still on my page! May God continue to Bless you!!
OH GOD, WHO MADE THE SUMMER AND WARMED THE EARTH WITH BEAUTY, WARM OUR HEARTS WITH GRATITUDE AND DEVOTION TO OUR DUTY, FOR IN THIS AGE OF VIOLENCE, REBELLION AND DEFIANCE WE'VE FORGOTTON THIS TRUE MEANING OF "DEPENDABLE RELIANCE" WE HAVE LOST OUR SENSE OF DUTY AND OUR SENSE OF VALVES,TOO AND WHAT WAS ONCE UNSANCTIONED. NO LONGER IS TABOO, OUR STANDARDS HAVE BEEN LOWERED AND WE RESIST ALL DISCIPLINE, AND OUR VISION HAS BEEN NARROWED AND BLINDED TO ALL SIN OH PUT THE SUMMER BRIGHTNESS IN OUR CLOSED, UNSEEING EYES SO IN THE CAREWORN FACES THAT WE PASS WE'LL RECOGNIZE THE HEARTBREAK AND THE LONELINESS, THE TROUBLE AND DESPRAIR THAT A WORD OF UNDERSTANDING WOULD MAKE EASIER TO BEAR- OH, GOD, LOOK DOWN ON OUR COLD HEARTS AND WARMS THEM WITH YOUR LOVE, AND GRANT US YOUR FORGIVENESS WHICH WE'RE SO UNWORTHY OF .
Well I was in heaven last weekend. Surrounded by 200 Women in the Arts.....Comediennes, Musicians, and all to raise money for women's cancer. They invited me to MC the event, plus many are also my friends. Hope all is well in your world and life is good. Drop me a note next time you come to visit family in Gainesville. I couldn't get past your 2500 fans in the audience to at least wave and shout "I love you, and she's carrying my baby!"
Remembering one of our own for Memorial Day in the USA. Randall Fletcher died in Tay Ninh on 8/24/68 during an enemy ambush. You will find his name on the Vietnam Memorial, Panel 46W Line 001 in Washington, D.C.. Randy was 20 years old at the time.
I am on my way to see you live at Freedom Hall in Johnson City,TN! I have been waiting to see you for almost 5 years now....I am so excited!! It is like Christmas in May!!!
Dear God, the lady reading this is beautiful, classy and strong and I love her. Help her live her life to the fullest. Please promote her and cause her to excel above expectations. Help her to shine in darkest places and love where it is impossible to love. Protect her at all times, lift her up when she needs you the most and let her know that when she walks with you; she will always be safe. Send this to all you love, I just did
Hi Chonda! I saw you at the EWomens conference in Pensacola this weekend.. Im so glad you made it... it was worth the wait. I pray that God continues to bless you and your family. Have a wonderful week.. :)
OK, finished David's book(sniff, sniff) and couldn't make it to see you at the many Lifeways Saturday(oncall: TORNADOES!) But I already had the DVD signed so...hope all went well. I do have to say I did love David's book. It was so good, now I'll have to find his other books to read. Sent a DVD of Prettyville to my mom! You won't believe me but she is also a comedian. Don't worry, I already told her she can't use your jokes! Guess she has to settle for making fun of my childhood still! LOL Hope to see you again soon!
I hope you all made it through the tornadoes today. You were in my thoughts and prayers.<br /><br />Sisters In Christ,<br />Carolyn Bennett<br />Knoxville, TN
