Pierce made the film in hopes it would serve as a vehicle to inspire others who may be hitting points of darkness and depression in their lives. Besides being a TV presenter, author, and actress, she is also a contemporary gospel stand-up. [3] But instead of losing hope, the comedian turned to stand up and comedy as a way to work through the hard times. Im not drinking excessively. Chonda Pierce's comedy calendar continues up to now, and some of her comedy segments are found on Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Radio's Laugh. Pierce is known as comedy's "Queen of Clean" for her G-rated performances. No matter where you are and whatever you do. Their mother, Virginia, passed away in 2012. It was hard on her parents. Pierce is fresh off an incredible year after debuting her movie Chonda Pierce: Laughing In The Dark, to rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. She has appeared in several of the Gaither Homecoming recordings and she wrote about her struggle with depression in Laughing in the Dark: A Comedian's Journey Through Depression (.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}ISBN1-58229-641-3). Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. FOX411:You speak openly about your depression. http://ryman.com/events/Sams_Place_041016, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. That keeps me going and lets me know that he's not out to get me, he's not trying to pick on me. . I loved the sound of an audience laughing. And we would not get discouraged when we dont get our way., Pierce explained how her view of Jesus reflects this concept of unconditional love. Chonda Pierce @chondapierce 25.3K subscribers Subscribe Facebook Home Videos Shorts Live Playlists Community Channels About Search Videos Play all 31:41 Live with Chonda! Legal Statement. For example, one study of 142 patients a week prior to heart surgery found that individuals with stronger religious beliefs had fewer subsequent complications and shorter hospital stays. She died 21 days later. However, her career breakthrough came in 2015, when she earned the role of Kandi. } From the documentary, the losses Chonda had experienced in life made her struggle with depression. Type above and press Enter to search. This is what lead to her becoming a well-known Christian. From Pierces perspective, we need to understand that our difficulty achieving that form of unconditional love is very much the essence of being human, and we need to understand that this is an ongoing struggle. I had lost both sisters by the time I was 18. (function() { 362K views 1 year ago An intimate look into the life of America's #1 female comedian (13 gold/platinum DVDs), Chonda Pierce. event : evt, Therefore, it is impossible to know whether she has a social media account, let alone an Instagram page. I think he really dwells with us. Pierce described how the fear of stigma kept her from seeking help. David struggled taking care of his divorced, alcoholic. If you have an article that you think would be a good fit for our website, please review our submission guidelines below and send it to us for review. And she continued to grieve the loss of her relationship with her daughter. April is famously known as Kandi on Two and a Half Men, the role which catapulted her to fame. "I remember the taste of . She had to cancel her latest tour due to COVID-19 but says she wants to do her part in keeping America laughing . But the thing that started weakening my faith a little bit is that it took so long for healing to kick in. Chonda and her husband met while in high school, and Cheras father was a handsome guy that caught the attention of many ladies. She is ranked amongst Pollstar.coms top-selling live performers and five of her DVDs have been certified Gold by the RIAA, signifying sales of more than 50,000 units, and three have been certified Platinum, signifying sales of more than 100,000 units. Chera Pierce is the firstborn in her family and has one sibling. Inspirational Country music Awards and Christian Music Hall of Fame Awards are among the stage shows she hosted. "Chonda Pierce: Laughing In The Dark" opened October 27, 2015 at 500 theaters throughout the country for a one-night special event and was so incredibly popular, it returned to nearly 800 theatres for an additional one-night encore showing. David lived for an hour after doctors took him off life support. She named her after her deceased sisters. Chonda, a preachers kid from Ashland City, grew up hearing that alcohol was evil, and if she drank, she was going to hell in a handbasket. Pierce is a member of the Christian Comedy Association, but outside the comedy, she is a spokesperson for World Vision and works with various other Christian leaders and organizations. She attended Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville for her studies. Oh, God, why have you forsaken me?. Dan Abrams' illness and health update: How is he fairing? Chonda Pierces family had three girls and one boy, and Chonda was the third born. Chonda raised two children in Los Angeles ( Source : facebook ) Chonda Pierce daughter Chera Pierce Meredith is a kids games developer at So Peculiar. })(); This error message is only visible to WordPress admins, Chera Pierce s Relationship with Her Mother, 3 Ways To Master Food Without Breaking A Sweat, All Personal Details About Breana Chloe Greenwood, You need to buy a Jacket like Rip Wheeler, World Wide Courier Service Company Insurance Coverage. But I also have to trust that he knows best and if our goal is to make it to that utopia, to make it to heaven, then I have my most of my family there already. Write that down, she said. By using BiJog.com you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The eldest died at 20 in a car accident, while the other, Cheralyn Ann, died at 15 due to Leukemia. After admitting he had a problem, her husband went into rehab and counseling, but David never beat his addiction. Your day is just flat.. The interesting thing about the concept of the Devil Satan, or whatever that darkness is he is not so powerful that he can make you do anything, Pierce described. [4] A Theater Arts major from Austin Peay State University, Pierce went to the park to pay her college bill. How come I have to walk this journey? David W. Pierce, Chonda's husband, initially met as a sophomore at Cheatham County High School in Ashland City, Tennessee. In his last conversation, David looked at his wife: I messed up, hun., He said, I love you and he said he was sorry. On the other hand, Pierce has lived through years of tremendous sadness and tragedy, including childhood physical abuse at the hands of her father, the loss of both of her sisters at a young age, the loss of her mother, her husbands battle with alcoholism and eventual death, and her estranged relationship with her daughter. Chonda Pierce's Initial Life, Youth, and Education Pierce was conceived in Covington, Kentucky on Walk 4, 1960. listeners: [], Pierce has gone on to appear numerous times on the stage of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, write eight books, and become a highly sought after Christian comedian, having five gold-certified comedy albums and two platinum albums to her name. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. And thats what Ive told crowds to do: Take out a sheet of paper and put a line down the middle and put that thought thats going in your head. I know I cant go back and fix that or change that. And then everyone else around you, especially if they dont know youre depressed, they have a tendency to go, OK, then, Ill let you sleep for a while., Ultimately, like many people who suffer from depression, at one point Pierce became hopeless that she would recover. Pierce was one of the top-selling Christian comedians on the circuit with 10 platinum-selling, Emmy-nominated albums to her name before she went on hiatus in 2014 following the death of her. So you can't turn around and blame the creator for something that we started. And I dont know why we forget that.. But at a certain point, Pierce realized not only that her faith was not preventing depression, but also that her experience of depression was making her question her faith. All the women are in menopause. The patients were standing on the porch. Chonda and David met when both were sophomores at Cheatham County High School. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. As the RIAAs best-selling female comedian, her hilarious take on life is easily relatable as she publicly opens up to her listeners about times of darkness and depression in her own life, drawing humor and good from every situation. Popularly known as The Queen of Clean for exceptional skills in comedy, the Emmy-nominated comedian released her first film Chonda Pierce: Laughing In The Dark, in October 2015. Unfortunately, she has kept everything about herself private. Pierce is looking forward to continuing her work. So lets fix that. Chera got married, had kids, and cut off all contact with her parents and family. 426426 91 comments 1 share Share Individuals with depression may have more difficulty engaging in the behaviors necessary to maintain relationships, thus eroding their existing social support. Keeping your head vertical, instead of laying down., Moreover, Pierce was able to examine some of the issues that may have contributed to her depression. What we fail to teach sometimes is how we love God unconditionally.. Can Humans Detect Text by AI Chatbot GPT? With Chonda Pierce. And Im crazy enough to believe that., He had a stroke because of his drinking in 2013, and brain surgery couldnt save him. I pray you have a great day. Pierce described how she experienced this interpersonal cycle. They were a family of four, consisting of her husband and two children. and her estranged relationship with her daughter. And Chonda lost two sisters in two years, one in a car crash, the other to leukemia. Chonda and David W. Pierce were high school sweethearts. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d7dfb98fcbca6 Being the daughter of one of the widely popular and well-earned comedians, the 38-year-old celebrity kid has had a comfortable life whose wealth is yet to be reviewed. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. My kids didnt want to be around me. Chonda Pierce is the mother of two children: Chera Pierce Meredith and David Zachary Pierce. God has inspiration and divine healing and hes got creation all of these beautiful aspects that we know of God that are in his tool bag., Then you also have to believe that there is the opposite of that. Entertaining. With Michael Courtney, Doug Griffin, Stan Lowery, Chonda Pierce. All rights reserved. But in the choosing, is when discontent comes along and we had to leave the utopia and Eden was no more and then suddenly we have to fend for ourselves and deal with pain, cancer, bad weather all those things that entered the world because of our choosing. Her father, David W. Pierce, worked as an English professor at Middle Tennessee State University. Her father was a preacher and suffered depression, and she had to live a troubled life since her mother was trying to keep the family together so that it could work typically. She is an American by birth. The last thing that the dark wants is for you to have chemo -- because he doesnt want the possibility of you getting healed from cancer. One of the things that Pierce thinks made her depression worse was wanting to isolate. David turned to alcohol for comfort after the loss of their daughter due to parental neglect and poor parenting, and Chonda Pierce's life got even more complicated. He had this beautiful, unconditional love. We all get cancer. Did I step out of line? Chonda Penetrate is an American entertainer. Pierce is quick to point out that she encourages people to question their faith as she did including whether they are guilty of sin that may be contributing to depression. Chonda Pierce is the mother of two children: Chera Pierce Meredith and David Zachary Pierce. Unfortunately, not much information about her is known. Meet Ice-T's daughter, Letesha Marrow: Who is her mother? Her father's name is David W. Pierce. How many siblings does Chera Kay have? In addition to her comedic work, Pierce has used her success to help others, and in 2006 founded Branches Recovery Center, which offers counseling and treatment to those with depression, anxiety, addiction, regardless of their ability to pay. Chondas childhood was so traumatic because of the loss she had to undergo at a young age. Despite attending rehab, he did not stop drinking, and this caused him to have a stroke in 2013. How do you keep your faith through that? I was anxious, nervous and couldnt eat very much. Then she got angry. { It feeds the depression, and its one of the things, I think, that is the hardest to fight and to push back on, she explained. Her daughter was given the names of her deceased sisters. Its really hard these days to find something for everybody on that couch from the 12 to 25 year old and yet this night, every night of these shows, there is a comic every 15 to 20 minutes so there is something a flavor for everybody on that couch. Then, there was that night David came home late slurring his words, and he ended up drunk in the hospital overnight while his wife wondered what was happening. People are often afraid of being judged or that information about their mental illness will somehow become public, and as a result, do not seek care. And her hopes were well-placed: Research suggests that spirituality predicts improved health and mood. Chonda Pierce is a contemporary gospel stand-up comedian, television presenter, author, and actress. They had me because I was speaking about something that needed to be heard. Tuko.co.ke recently published an article on April Bowlby. What made you decide to do this? Prince Harry addresses 'Spare' backlash in interview: 'I have never looked for sympathy in this', Shania Twain was 'uncontrollably fragile' from ex Mutt Lange's affair with friend: 'How could I be so stupid', Olivia Newton-John's daughter Chloe reveals 'promise' she made to mother before her death, Emma Stones 'And' co-star Willem Dafoe had her slap him 20 times to get scene right, Prince Harry's 'attacks' on 'villain' Camilla led to Frogmore Cottage eviction: expert, Film industry reacts to death of 'Saving Private Ryan' star Tom Sizemore: 'You're a legend'. By Martha Rose Brown, T&D Staff Writer. Not knowing how to dance, she had to memorize jokes from Grinders Switch, Tennessee and impersonate Cousin Minnie Pearl. And to realize that in this body, in this flesh, we have limitations, she said. She has also appeared on Entertainment Tonight, The View, Fox News Channel, Wanda Sykes, and her comedy is regularly featured on XM and Sirius satellite radio. or redistributed. And she is happy and proud that she has emerged from depression with an even stronger sense of faith. PAY ATTENTION: Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme. If I make a comment on a comic who does not perhaps live their Christianity like I do, then I just sound judgmental and snotty. It is impossible to tell where she is now, considering that she cut off all her contact with her mother and family. Our father was a pastor and was a very abusive man. Eventually, Chera got married, had kids and cut off all contact with the family. She told me, I had been doing what I do for about 15 years when I hit the wall running. How am I going to provide for my family? And it has really taught me unconditional love for God. Additionally, Pierce felt that her depression highlighted a weakness in her faith, where she questioned why God was forcing her to suffer. Chera was raised alongside her brother in Ashland City. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. Charlotta died because of a head-on collision in 1976. Pierce: I think they're funny and clever and I love that. But I will say they're walking in all the light they know. During her USO tours, she performed for the troops. Yet she remarkably makes her way through the adversity, heart-wrenching loss and her own depression with the gift of humor! She takes that vulnerability to a new level in a documentary about losing her husband, Laughing in the Dark, out April 5 on DVD. . Faith & Fameis a regular column exploring how a strong belief system helps some performers navigate the pitfalls of the entertainment industry. Michael also left to get married. He has written ten short stories appearing in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. My thing is that I think its great to have those questions. Her father, David W. Pierce, worked as an English professor at Middle Tennessee State University. And I look back now and see the anger in my brain that could be the catalyst of all of this. ", She was born, Chonda Ruth Courtney,[1] in Covington, Kentucky, on March 4,[2] 1960,[3] while she was raised in South Carolina, by her father who was a preacher and mother, Virginia Whalen. David was a heavy drinker who died of a stroke. Her daughter is Chera Kay Pierce, while her son is David Zachary. David struggled taking care of his divorced, alcoholic father known as the Ashland City drunk who sometimes slept on downtown benches. Pierce chronicled her bouts with depression after losing her mother, dealing with her husbands alcoholism battle and death, an estranged daughter and the loss of her sisters as a child. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Her father was a preacher. Reach Brad Schmitt at 615-259-8384 or on Twitter @bradschmitt. He was good looking, with brown, wavy hair, smart, a guitarist and a state champ wrestler in the 100-pound weight class. We shoot our wounded, in other words, and we have a bad history of that. } We're in a culture that accepts that stuff and that to me is the sadder part of the story then someone who degrades women in a way that's just not clever anymore.