The limited engagement documentary-style film was so well received that it was brought back for a very special encore performance and in total was viewed by nearly 100,000 people over the course of just two nights. 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. 425425 91 comments 1 share Share 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. Chonda Pierces family had three girls and one boy, and Chonda was the third born. } And the social isolation can then result in worsening depression. He passed on due to complications resulting from the stroke her suffered. On the one hand, Pierce, the Queen of Clean, makes a successful living from laughter. She was raised alongside her brother David. Then the financial worry kicks in. And she continued to grieve the loss of her relationship with her daughter. Chera Pierce Meredith - Who Is Chonda Pierce's Enstranged Daughter But Chonda Pierce also belongs on that list. 426426 91 comments 1 share Share Her name is in the limelight because of her mother, Chonda Pierce. Her daughter is Chera Kay Pierce, while her son is David Zachary. Chonda Pierce's daughter, Chera Kay, began to resent her parents, mostly her mother, for unknown reasons. And she is happy and proud that she has emerged from depression with an even stronger sense of faith. Today, as the RIAAs best-selling female comedian, Pierce continues to bring the laughs with her unique blend of music and comedy. We shoot our wounded, in other words, and we have a bad history of that. From there, Pierce turned her gift of storytelling into a successful comedic career, selling more comic albums than any other female comedian. John Michuki's Daughter Resigns from Ruto's Gov't as President Intensifies Purge on Uhuru's Appointees, Naftali Kinuthia Says He Regrets Killing Lover Ivy Wangeci Using Axe: "Too Angry to Think", Mother's Love Prevails: Chinese Woman Divorces Husband After Refusing To Pay Son's Medical Bills, US Denies Pushing LGBTQ Agenda in Kenya Through Donations: "We Respect Kenyan Position", TikToker Brian Chira Confesses Love for Andrew Kibe: "I Want You". Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. })(); 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. Yet she remarkably makes her way through the adversity, heart-wrenching loss and her own depression with the gift of humor! Her daughter is Chera Kay Pierce, while her son is David Zachary. In October 2015, Pierce took her humor to the big screen with her first film Chonda Pierce: Laughing In The Dark, based on her personal struggle to overcome depression. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); **Please note that due to scheduling and other constraints at this time we are accepting inquiries for private engagements only, and that will not be advertised**, (Reference list of headline performers previously presented). One of my counselors told me, Depression is anger turned inward. We hit the mother lode!, But as Pierce recovered, what also emerged was an opportunity for her to rethink her faith. She has also raised several million dollars for international relief organizations Compassion International, WorldVision, Food for the Hungry and Feed The Children. But instead of losing hope, the comedian turned to stand up and comedy as a way to work through the hard times. Her daughter was given the names of her deceased sisters. Not now, I'm highly medicated, people chuckle at that. And then your thinking is even more cloudy, Pierce said. The film topped charts and competed with some of the years biggest films. Tuko.co.ke recently published an article on April Bowlby. Theres a sweet resolve when you truly believe theres a heaven., YMCA staffers describe how they saved man's life. Additionally, Pierce felt that her depression highlighted a weakness in her faith, where she questioned why God was forcing her to suffer. Like many people, Pierce felt that her depression reflected a weakness on her part, a personal defect, and she did not seek diagnosis or treatment for fear of being stigmatized. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. They got married shortly after college, and their firstborn child was Chera Kay. My job is good, she said. Through this experience, Pierce realized that many people in her community were also ashamed of being depressed and feared that seeking help would divulge the fractures in their relationships with God. Chera was raised alongside her brother in Ashland City. Chonda Pierce bringing hope, laughs to pandemic-weary fans Eventually, Pierce was able to get over the stigma and continued the treatment she began in the hospital. By the time Cheralyn was diagnosed as terminal, their pastor father quit his pulpit and left his wife. You will laugh so hard at Chonda Pierce. Chonda Pierce is a singer, a television host, author, and a Christian. I miss The Carol Burnett Show, and I'm hoping it becomes something like that. Her daughter was given the names of her deceased sisters. Loretta . David struggled taking care of his divorced, alcoholic father known as the Ashland City drunk who sometimes slept on downtown benches. Maybe you just go, Well, Im a churchgoer. I pray you have a great day. I said, You have nothing to be sorry about. . Cheras mother got her break in comedy when she went to the theme park in Opryland USA in Nashville, Tennessee, while she was majoring in Theater Arts at Austin Peay State University. And I think thats one of the things that deters our healing and also makes us isolate even more, she explained. 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. That proved to be painful for David and Chonda and Chonda, who cried about it often, started to notice her husband having a drink or two here and there. Along come a few folks who said, Hey youve got a great following you can amass some great comics that are family friendly. So we put it all together and Im so grateful that they did. Chonda Ruth Pierce (ne Courtney, born March 4, 1960), is a Christian comedian often billed as "The Queen of Clean. Chonda Pierce's family had three girls and one boy, and Chonda was the third born. She told me, I had been doing what I do for about 15 years when I hit the wall running. And thats a good thing to strive for. I dont know if Im incredibly optimistic, or I have such a strength in faith. 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. Further, depression can be a chronic condition, with depressed people at risk for relapse over their lives. This vicious cycle can apply to a depressed persons social support as well. To establish herself as a comedian, she recorded Second Row, Piano Side. Chonda lost her two sisters, Charlotta Kay and Cheralyn Ann, before turning 18 years old. She named her after her deceased sisters. "Born on March 04 resides in Nashville, Tennessee", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chonda_Pierce&oldid=1078034609, This page was last edited on 19 March 2022, at 14:17. It's a great movie for your whole family. Less than two years later, Pierce's younger sister, Cheralyn, 15, was diagnosed with leukemia. Cheras relationship with her brother is unclear after she cut contact with her parents. Dan Abrams' illness and health update: How is he fairing? Chonda and David met when both were sophomores at Cheatham County High School. That teaches me that he doesn't leave us empty handed. } Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d7dfb98fcbca6 Chonda Pierce (@chondapierce) / Twitter Cheralyn died of leukemia in 1978. Research suggests that many forms of medication and psychotherapy may be effective in treating depression. Pierce got her start working at Opryland Theme Park in Nashville where she performed as Grand Ole Opry star Minnie Pearl. But Pierce knows that her faith may get tested again and shes ready. Pierce: I believe in the Bible and what it says. ); Having had a troubled childhood, Pierce used entertainment as a needed catharsis, reporting "I was hooked! Whatever that vice is thats probably not healthy for you, you have to change it. Chonda and her husband, David W. Pierce, gave birth to two children. Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed. Im obeying the laws of the land. ", 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. Part of the change was how she interacted with her family. And Ive been grateful for that, because Ive known people who give up on faith for a lot less.. I pray you have a great day. I look back and sometimes say, Why havent I given up? she said. Let your voice and your choice be known. And then you linger in bed longer and longer and longer and dread starting your day until it begins to affect you physically, because youre not getting any exercise, and youre not eating well and you get run down. The two dated on an off, and shortly after college, they got married. Because if we can learn to love him unconditionally, then we dont get mad when he doesnt answer our prayers the way we think he should answer them, she explained. After being hospitalized and diagnosed, Pierce saw immediate improvement. We all get depressed. If you don't like them, stop buying a ticket. 185.120.79.100 How come I have to walk this journey? Chonda joined Trevecca Nazarene University before transferring to Austin Peay State University and majoring in theater arts. Piano Side," a collection drawing material from her childhood growing up as the daughter of a . Chonda Pierce: Enough (2017) - IMDb Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC, Psychology and the Mystery of the "Poisoned" Schoolgirls. 10 Outside-the-Box Faith-Based Films On The Horizon In addition to her 10 successful albums to date, she has also authored eight books, most recently Laughing In The Dark (Simon&Schuster/Howard), the inspiration for her upcoming film, and appears at venues big and small throughout the United States making audiences laugh with her ability to find the positivity in any situation. When Pierce was 16, her older sister, Charlotta, 20, was killed in a head-on crash while heading home from work. Thats not to say I certainly had my conversations with him that's how I know he must be loving because he should have struck me with lightening a long time ago. Selfie Dad: Directed by Brad J. Silverman. There is always darkness at work in the world. I think Im at that stage where Im resolved and at peace, but grief is the gift that keeps on giving. Or am I just crazy? And I dont know why we forget that.. I had a painful childhood. People say, What if you die and find out there is no heaven?, And I go, Well, what did I lose? While Minnie left some big shoes to fill a distinctive, well-worn pair of black Mary Janes to be exact after her passing in 1996, a new generation of female comedians have taken up the mantle in her honor at the Opry House, including regular Chonda Pierce, who impersonated Minnie while working at the old Opryland USA theme park. Her dad was a man-of-the-cloth who suffered in silence from bipolar disorder and turned to drinking and abusive behaviors. Chonda Pierce - YouTube He was good looking, with brown, wavy hair, smart, a guitarist and a state champ wrestler in the 100-pound weight class. For co-hosting the massively popular talk show Aspiring Women On total Living Network she received five Daytime Emmy nominations. But now, Pierce has come to a new understanding about her depression, in which she has reconciled that she can be a deeply spiritual person and suffer from depression at the same time. 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. In 2016, Chonda Pierce released a documentary that talked about her life. After deciding to pursue comedy fulltime, she recorded Second Row, Piano Side, a collection drawing material from her childhood growing up as the daughter of a preacher in South Carolina. When Chonda got home from the hospital that night, she wandered into the garage and saw a tarp on the floor. We were each others soulmates through all that.. **Please note that due to scheduling and other constraints at this time we are accepting inquiries for private engagements only, and that will not be advertised** Hes cute, wonderful, attractive. With Chonda Pierce. Emmy-nominated comedienne Chonda . And Im crazy enough to believe that., He had a stroke because of his drinking in 2013, and brain surgery couldnt save him. 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. This is what lead to her becoming a well-known Christian. These events in part fueled Pierce's bout with severe depression, . Not knowing how to dance, she had to memorize jokes from Grinders Switch, Tennessee and impersonate Cousin Minnie Pearl. Why are you not listening to my prayers? 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. Chonda, a preacher's kid from Ashland City, grew up hearing that alcohol was evil, and if she drank, she was going to hell in a handbasket. Therefore, it is impossible to know whether she has a social media account, let alone an Instagram page. 10 Opry Women Who've Blazed the Trail | Opry David struggled taking care of his divorced, alcoholic. And I look back now and see the anger in my brain that could be the catalyst of all of this. How do you keep your faith through that? Chonda Pierce is the mother of two children: Chera Pierce Meredith and David Zachary Pierce. During Davids last year alive, Chonda remembers good and bad weekends. Click to reveal Chonda Pierce - Wikipedia And then it opens the dialogue to begin to love each other more, Pierce explained. A young guy said to another, Man, if David cant make it, I dont stand a chance., Youve got to make it, she said, looking at the young guy, because there are people out there who love you, and youre killing us., Arnold's patrons fight to pay for soldiers' lunches. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. They were a family of four, consisting of her husband and two children. She is an American by birth. And were supposed to strive to be that way., And yet this message may not always be conveyed. On the other hand, her mother lives with her son Zachary and entirely focuses on other aspects of her life. Chonda Pierce husband, divorce, books, daughter, twitter biography The film is a behind-the-scenes journal chronicling Pierces downward spiral dealing with the devastating loss of her mother, an estranged daughter and the tragedy of her husbands battle with alcoholism and subsequent death, all over the course of three years. Chonda is a comedian; she spreads laughter and happiness to others. I think that my God is much more powerful than any other entity out there. When youre depressed, youre achy and you want to isolate. Pierces material resonated with people from all walks of life, and she credits her southern upbringing both for her warped sense of humor and her solid roots. 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. In 1999, the U.S. surgeon generals report on mental health identified stigma as one of the greatest barriers to people seeking treatment. Chonda and Chera hit the headlines after Chonda revealed that her daughter cut ties with the family for the reasons she knows herself. David W. Pierce, Chonda's husband, initially met as a sophomore at Cheatham County High School in Ashland City, Tennessee. All rights reserved. They first met in his second grade at Cheatham County High School in Ashland City, Tennessee. The couple met when they were studying at Cheatham County High School. 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. And Chonda lost two sisters in two years, one in a car crash, the other to leukemia. David lived for an hour after doctors took him off life support. Now I thought it would totally be the end of my career, and it would trickle down, and I would not get work. She was born with three other siblings, Michael, Charlotta, and Cheralyn. Lets redeem that. They were a family of four, consisting of her husband and two children. Happy Birthday to my daughter. Her father, David W. Pierce, worked as an English professor at Middle Tennessee State University. 998 views1 year ago. It is impossible to tell where she is now, considering that she cut off all her contact with her mother and family. Pierce had hoped that her faith would protect her to an extent. Chonda and her husband met while in high school, and Cheras father was a handsome guy that caught the attention of many ladies. Nov 16, 2013 Updated Feb 18, 2020. Chera Pierces mother hoped to be an actress one day, and she decided to major in art studies to achieve her dream. A stand-up comedian, television hostess, author and now actress, Pierce has channeled her life experiences into positivity, bringing laughter to audiences around the country. For comedian Chonda Pierce, comedy isn't just her day job; it's also a way for her to share her faith and overcome depression. She has written many books, and she is a highly sought out Christian comedian. Pierce is looking forward to continuing her work. David W. Pierce was her husband until he died in 2014. Sometimes You Have To Laugh To Keep From Crying It may come as a surprise since she consistently keeps her audiences rolling, but Chonda Pierce's life has been anything but a barrel of laughs. Then what sets in is a great peace to know that hes at peace. It was just the medicine I needed."[5]. 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. Chonda Pierce "Laughing In The Dark" | FREE FULL LENGTH FEATURE Performance & security by Cloudflare. If there is a darkness, if there is a Devil, whats in his tool bag? 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. So you can't turn around and blame the creator for something that we started. Inspirational Country music Awards and Christian Music Hall of Fame Awards are among the stage shows she hosted. tickets.familycampmovie.com 2:19 630 views Chonda Pierce Know About Chonda Pierce's Daughter Chera Pierce Meredith It resonated with people and the more opportunity that you have to share you should. And its wonderful when you figure out that concept, she explained. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Chonda Pierce - Have I Got A Story For You (DVD, 2003) at the best online prices at eBay! Chonda Pierce - Have I Got A Story For You (DVD, 2003) Later, she transferred to Austin Peay State University. And then at the same time there were pockets of people and places and things and conventions and conferences that did have me. And her hopes were well-placed: Research suggests that spirituality predicts improved health and mood. Chonda Pierce Brings America Laughter from Her Living Room with We need to see common ground with each other with our humanity. When she went to pay the college bills, she did not know how to dance and decided to memorize the jokes of Grinders Switch while she also had to impersonate her cousin Minnie Pearl. After more than three decades of marriage, the husband passed away. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, How am I going to provide for my family? If you can identify it, great. This time, he went to Discovery Place, a mens rehab in Burns, Tenn. Cheras mother was born Chonda Ruth Courtney on March 4, 1960, in Covington, Kentucky. 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. Previous image. [3], Pierce got her start in comedy during a six-year stint at a theme park in Nashville, Tennessee called Opryland USA. 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. At the time, David was caring for his divorced father, the Ashland City drinker, who was a habitual alcoholic. He had this beautiful, unconditional love. In addition to her accolades, Pierce is a frequent guest on famed Grand Ole Opry and has served as host of the Inspirational Country Music Awards and Christian Music Hall of Fame Awards and also co-hosted the GMA Dove Awards in 2012. During Chondas childhood, they lived in Georgetown, South Carolina, and later when she was 15, they moved to Ashland City. It was supposed to be a utopia that we were supposed to live in and God gave us a choice to love him or not, and I would imagine -- I'm not God -- but the thought process was 'I'm going to create all of this but I want to know that they really love me' and so he gave us free will and in that free will we make the choice to believe or not. Chonda Pierce was born Chonda Courtney and was raised in South Carolina. The documentary was nominated for a Daytime Emmy nomination five times and won the Best Documentary Award in 2016. Chera is named after Chonds deceased sister. 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 majored in theatre arts. I was really surprised that the stigma was still there, that people still remain that uneducated about this situation., And then when this happened, I sadly realized, Oh, no, we havent come that far.. (252) 5.1 1 h 16 min 2013 13+. Chonda Pierce's Initial Life, Youth, and Education Pierce was conceived in Covington, Kentucky on Walk 4, 1960. Shes the top selling female comedian of all time, with performances such as Laughing in the Dark and her new Dove Channel comedy series, Chonda Pierce Presents Stand-Up for Families. Additionally, Pierce is a devout evangelical Christian, one whose faith has been a great source of strength and community. What we fail to teach sometimes is how we love God unconditionally.. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Maam, hes not having a stroke, the paramedic said. However, her career breakthrough came in 2015, when she earned the role of Kandi. She attended Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville for her studies. For Pierce, the concept of dealing with depression is something that could unite people of all backgrounds. I was already set up to be a comic, then I got depressed. Well, its going to be to discourage people to isolate them, to depress them, to make them sick, she explained. David went to treatment at Cumberland Heights for 30 days in 2011, and Chonda sold their Murfreesboro home to free herself of painful memories and moved them both to a downtown Nashville condo. Pierce described how the fear of stigma kept her from seeking help. I read the posts on my Facebook page and it would make anybody cry. No matter where you are and whatever you do. FOX411:You speak openly about your depression. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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! She takes that vulnerability to a new level in a documentary about losing her husband, Laughing in the Dark, out April 5 on DVD. Chonda and David W. Pierce were high school sweethearts. 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).