Comedian Chonda Pierce performs Nov. 8 in Pasco

Chonda Pierce lost her husband, David, in summer 2014.

They were married for more than three decades when he died following a sudden illness, and the popular comedian said, “Getting back to my life after that was slow moving.”

But she found strength in her Christian faith and, eventually, in getting back on stage, where she has shined for years.

“We are all impatient creatures. We want instant gratification. No one wants to take the time that it requires. There’s no way around it or easy access through grief,” Pierce said. “You just keep walking through it. You keep moving.”

Pierce is moving these days.

She plans a stop in Pasco on Nov. 8 as part of her Focus on the Funny tour. She performs at 7 p.m. at Faith Assembly.

The audience can expect to laugh — a lot, she said.

Pierce always has found a way to mine comedy from her life throughout the years. From her stories of her childhood as the daughter of the South Carolina preacher to jokes about menopause and the body shaping undergarment, Spanx.

“I think they’re of the devil,” she said.

“I got lucky — I found the right job to expose all the funny things about myself,” Pierce said.

The Daytime Emmy-nominee got her start playing the legendary Minnie Pearl at the Opryland Theme Park in Nashville.

Pierce was a poor dancer, so she made up for it by telling jokes. She kept the theme park gig for six years.

She eventually moved onto full-time comedy and never looked back. She has recorded 10 comedy albums, selling more than any other female comedian.

She’s also written eight books, co-hosted a talk show and appeared as a guest on the Grand Ole Opry, among other accomplishments.

Her film Chonda Pierce: Laughing in the Dark also recently made its debut. It chronicles her journey through adversity and tragedy, including her husband’s death.

While Pierce tries to leave her audiences laughing, she also aims to offer something more.

“Nothing beats at the end of the night when you’ve really made some genuine (connections). You look out into a sea of faces and you’ve gotten to laugh together and share a moment. This day and age, we need that,” she said.

Pierce said she looks forward to the Pasco show.

“There’s nothing like live comedy and laughing together,” she said. “We’ll have a great time.”

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door, $35 for gold seats or $60 for a VIP package. They’re available by calling 800-965-9324 or going to www.itickets.com.

Faith Assembly is at 1800 N. Road 72.

This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 12:49 PM with the headline "Comedian Chonda Pierce performs Nov. 8 in Pasco."