Life Is Funny Until It's Not

One of America’s funniest women opens up in this real and raw memoir, encouraging readers to face life’s trials with unshakeable faith and joy.

A stand-up comedian beloved for her combination of feisty wit and Southern charm, Pierce knows all too well that life is funny—until it’s not. But she also knows that it will become funny again. She’s held on to that hope—and that promise—through tragedy and triumph.

And now she’s finally ready to tell her full story.

In Life Is Funny until It’s Not, Pierce recounts a preacher’s daughter’s childhood filled with heartbreak, including abuse, her parents’ divorce, and the sudden deaths of her two sisters in the span of two years. Even after she achieved success in her comedy tours, trials and tragedy dogged her through marriage, motherhood, and widowhood. But God was there with her through every sorrow and every joy.

This story of unshakeable hope and faith will inspire readers to turn to God and trust his faithfulness.

Chonda Pierce has a white-knuckle faith—the kind you almost dare to have taken from you. And she wants her readers to share her unapologetic courage to hope—as well as a few laughs along the way.

Chonda Pierce is a stand-up comedian, Emmy®-nominated television host, producer, screenwriter, and actress who has been making audiences laugh for more than three decades with her winning combination of fierce wit and Southern charm. She is the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) bestselling female comedian and the author of several books, including Laughing in the Dark, Roadkill on the Highway to Heaven, and Second Row, Piano Side.

Praise for Life Is Funny Until It's Not:

“I love calling Chonda my friend. I am so proud of her for digging in and sharing her story with others. Her story is a testimony of how to love God through all of life’s messes, heartache, and celebrations. Anyone who knows Chonda’s story knows how amazing she is at making you laugh—but what you’ll read in this book is the depth of her heart and ministry. It’s awesome.”
—Michael W. Smith, three-time Grammy Award winner with thirty-one #1 hit songs

“Chonda Pierce is a master storyteller recounting the harsh events of her life as the springboard to sheer hilarity in this brutally honest memoir. Chonda’s book provides hope and encouragement to those who feel that the deep hurts in their lives are beyond redeemable. Proverbs 17:22 says that ‘A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.’ This book is great medicine!”
—Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, Fox News host, and two-time presidential candidate

“This book is a must-read for fans of clean comedy and all comedy. Chonda’s gripping story brings laughter to tears and tears to laughter. This book is an amazing read.”
—Tim Hawkins, top-selling Christian comedian

“Raw, real, gut-wrenching, funny, bold, courageous, hopeful—Chonda style. This book will change conversations and lives. It’s a gift to us all.”
—Dr. Tim Clinton, president of the American Association of Christian Counselors

“Life Is Funny Until It’s Not reveals Chonda’s story from her heart and perspective. Many of her books have given a glimpse into different stages of her life. This book invites you into an intimate look into all of it. She gives us permission to see the dark places and the beautiful spaces of her very being. God created her to be a vibrant, fun, and loving person that shares His love. As a comedian, she has shown His light from stage for over thirty years. Readers now get to see His light as she shares all of her story in an attempt to help you with healing your own story. ‘Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective’ (James 5:16). I’m praying over all that read this honest account to experience healing.”
—Tracey Robison, LPC-MHSP, clinical director of Branches.org