How Leanne Morgan Began Her Comedy Journey as a New Mom: "I Was Schlepping..."

The Beginnings of a Comedy Legend

Leanne Morgan has become a household name in the world of comedy, known for her New York Times bestselling memoir and sold-out stand-up shows across the United States. Her humor, often centered around everyday life, has resonated with audiences for decades. From topics like marriage and parenting to more specific issues like plantar fasciitis, Morgan's relatable jokes have brought countless laughs to fans.

But her journey to stardom didn't start in a comedy club or on a stage. It began while she was "schlepping" jewelry as a new mom in rural Tennessee. This unique path shaped the comedian into the iconic figure she is today.

From Jewelry Parties to Comedy Clubs

During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers in September 2024, Morgan shared how she always knew she was meant to be a comedian. She recalled how she developed her voice by performing for an audience she could relate to at jewelry parties.

Morgan once dreamed of being on Saturday Night Live, but life took a different turn when she started her family. She explained that after dropping out of school in the '80s, she eventually went back and married Chuck Morgan, whom she has been with since 1993. They moved to Bean Station, Tennessee, where she had her first child, Charlie.

"I wanted to be a mama more than anything, but I knew in the back of my mind, I'm going to Hollywood," she said. "I just thought, this is what I'm supposed to be doing."

To make ends meet, Morgan took a flexible job selling jewelry in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. She joked about how she was doing it to afford hair highlights, which made the Late Night audience laugh.

Finding Her Voice in Living Rooms

Morgan realized later that these jewelry parties were the perfect setting for her to develop her comedic skills. She explained that she was selling jewelry so she could earn money without leaving her baby during the day and could breastfeed.

"I didn't even care about jewelry," she said. "But I look back on it now and I had my own little comedy club."

The women at these parties were going through similar experiences, and Morgan used the opportunity to create her own material. "I developed a schtick. I developed an act. Some of my first material, I said in people's living rooms when I was schlepping that jewelry."

Her talent didn't go unnoticed. The jewelry company took notice of how successful her parties were, booking her "about a year in advance." She even joked about telling customers, "Book a party with me now or see me in Vegas later."

A Viral Moment That Changed Everything

Morgan's rise to fame truly began when she became a grandmother in her 50s. During an appearance on TODAY in September 2024, she shared how a video helped launch her career.

"I hired these little boys to do my social media," she told Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb. "They put out one clip about me talking about Chuck Morgan and me going to [a] Def Leppard and Journey concert and how everybody looked sick and had plantar fasciitis. And that went viral and I started selling out all over the United States."

She described the moment as "like somebody turned on a light in a dark room."

Building a Career Through Hard Work

Before her viral moment, Morgan worked hard in comedy clubs. After moving to San Antonio with her husband, she drove back and forth to Austin to perform at open mics. She considered Austin her home club, where she started performing over 20 years ago.

Today, Morgan has worked with many famous stars, including Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell. She also received valuable advice from Jerry Seinfeld before starring in her own sitcom, Leanne.

"He said, 'Leanne, you go in front of thousands of people every night, you can make them laugh for over an hour. You know what you're doing, you know what's funny, you can do this,'" she shared during a July 2025 interview on TODAY. "I know that sounds simple, but it gave me the confidence to think, 'Okay, I can do a sitcom.'"