Local Woman Interviews Jeanne Robertson

At 6’2’’, Jeanne Robertson was more likely to be a professional basketball player than a beauty queen. But being crowned Miss North Carolina in 1963 changed the course of her life in a very unexpected way. It was while competing in the Miss America Pageant, where she was named Miss Congeniality, that she first realized she was funny. As Miss North Carolina, she traveled her native state for one year speaking every day at pageants and addressing civic clubs and corporations. After she returned to Auburn University to complete her degree, she found that people were willing to pay her to come and address their groups and conventions. They wanted Jeanne, not just a title holder, because she made them laugh. 

For years, her witty speeches were mostly limited to conventions and meetings. But with the dawn of the digital age, the world became exposed to Robertson’s infectious humor and before long, at 68 years young, she went viral. She has become one of the funniest, busiest and most popular professional speakers in America today. 

Now with seven nationally released DVDs, three books, hundreds of hours on SiriusXM and more than 14 million YouTube hits, the demand for Robertson’s family-friendly and engaging brand of humor has grown exponentially.  Click here www.youtube.com/user/JeanneRobertson to see this “Granny Gone Viral,” over-night sensation (four decades in the making)!

Becky Samford, local publisher of an events newsletter, had the pleasure of speaking to her recently and asked her a few questions:

Are some people just born funny?

I think that although some people are born funnier than others, everyone can, and should, develop a sense of humor. Not everyone can tell a joke, but everyone can learn to see humor in the ordinary events of their life. I'm intentional about it. I start my “to do” list everyday with, find something funny that happens today.

Why is having a sense of humor important?

I feel that humor is so important that it really is the secret for success, whether you are a CEO or a stay at home mom. People gravitate toward those with a sense of humor. I believe that humor is foundational to a long and happy marriage, like mine with “left brain”. (her nick name for her analytical husband)

You state that you are a humorist, not a comedian. What’s the difference?

I don’t tell jokes; I share funny stories about my life. I have learned that people love a true story, especially if it’s stretched a bit. Being from the south, I feel that southerners put a higher priority on story telling than those in other parts of the country. The hot climate, coupled with no air conditioning, caused people to congregate on the porch, where it was cooler, and they usually ended up telling stories. This was a great way to pass the time and hear funny stories about relatives. In today’s technological society, story telling is becoming a lost art which we should encourage in our children, both to instill them with a sense of humor, but also as a way to pass on the family history to younger generations.

How can we foster a sense of humor in our children?

Children learn to have a sense of humor by example. They watch how you react to your world. A mother who has a great sense of humor naturally models it for her children. But, you can also foster this by pointing things out and saying, "isn’t that funny?"! She suggests asking your children, “What was the funniest thing that you saw or heard today?” Tell them what you saw that was funny. Teach your children to laugh at themselves, by laughing at yourself and allowing them to laugh with you. Teach them to react to unexpected events with humor and not anger. It IS funny when the dog eats your homework, even if you have to redo it! Make humor a priority. It’s an attitude toward life that can be instilled and improved upon in ourselves and in our children.

Because many of my readers are Mompreneurs and run businesses from their homes, I asked her how she balanced a career and a child.

Your children should always be your first priority, and mine was. That being said, however, they should learn that you have a business and that your business is important also. And that sometimes outside obligations and commitments have to come first, unless there is an emergency. Her grown son still knows when he is visiting, that if he goes into her office and she is on the phone, to hold up a finger signifying that, this is not an emergency but, as soon as she can, he needs to speak to her.  

He actually lives just north of Atlanta with his own family.She said he is very funny and tells wonderful stories.I'm not surprised in the least. His mother is one of the warmest, most gracious women to whom  I've ever spoken. She is soft spoken, southern and hysterical. I LOVED "visiting" with her and cannot wait to see her show next week!! 

 Jeanne will be in Atlanta for one night only at Cobb Energy Center on Friday, March 16th at 8PM. Purchase tickets HERE.