Finding the Funny in Family
An Interview with comedian Trey Kennedy
I discovered Trey Kennedy several years ago while scrolling TikTok. One of his videos popped up on my feed—it was a skit about the difference between Mom waking a kid up for school and when Dad does it. I laughed out loud. It was as if Kennedy had been in my home, watching this scene play out. I immediately forwarded the video to my husband and teenage son. “I’ve always found the humor in the everyday stuff,” Kennedy says. The 32-year-old comedian, actor, and singer from Oklahoma has built his career on finding the funny in family life.
Funny From a Young Age
Since he was a kid, Kennedy’s favorite way of communicating was through comedy. “I remember sitting around the table making jokes about my mom and my sister,” he says. “It was always in good fun and never mean-spirited….it’s letting them know you love them and that you see them.”
As an adult, Kennedy still loves to make people laugh. “My family continues to be a part of my act,” he says. “Luckily, my wife, mom, sister …. They are all good sports with good senses of humor. They are not upset when I use them in my act or as inspiration for a skit. In fact, they are honored to be a part of my work.”
Finding An Audience
Kennedy first gained viral fame in 2013 with a series of videos that depicted life as a middle schooler. One video received more than 14 million views. “I remembered so vividly what it was like to be that age and how I behaved toward my parents,” he says. “The bit evolved from my memories and caught on because it resonated with an audience.”
In 2020, Kennedy had just embarked on his first tour when the pandemic hit. “The tour was sold out,” he says. “I remember getting off the stage after my second show and learning that the NBA had shut down, so I knew I wasn’t going to be able to continue with the tour.”
Kennedy continued with his comedy during lockdown and created content for his YouTube and TikTok followers. “People were stuck in their homes looking to be entertained,” he says. “It’s probably the only time that everyone was experiencing the same thing at the same time. Being creative through social media got me through and I hope that I helped other people get through that tough time. Everyone needed to laugh at that time, and that is when a lot of new people discovered my work.”
Back on Tour
Kennedy’s latest comedy special, Trey Kennedy: Grow Up, is available on Hulu, and he’s embarking on a third tour, The Relatable Tour, which stops at Ovens Auditorium on December 12. “It is the biggest blessing to be able to perform in front of people and make them laugh,” he says. “The difference is that on social media, you are fighting for people’s attention. There are a lot of creators online, and so you have to convince the audience not to scroll past you. In person, you have their undivided attention, so you really get to connect with one another.”
Whether in person or online, Kennedy prides himself on being a “clean” comedian. “There is space for all types of comedy out there,” he says. “However, for me, it is important to create clean content. I try not to cross a line—my goal isn’t for anyone to leave my show upset. I create comedy to be enjoyed by teenagers, their millennial parents, and their boomer grandparents. It’s lighthearted fun for everyone.”
New Perspective
Kennedy often hears from fans who forward his videos to their partners, kids, or other family members. “Sharing a laugh is a great way for different generations to stay close,” he says. “It makes me so happy when I hear that fans are seeing themselves and their families in my comedy. We all have a mom like my mom or know a mom like mine—she’s the best and she happens to be hilarious! So, although my comedy is based on my personal experiences, it’s also universal because everyone can relate to what I am talking about.”
As a father of two, Kennedy now sees parenting from a different perspective. “My son is 2 years old and he is already so funny,” he says. “I definitely stay present as a parent and live in the moment. But I also always have my phone nearby so I can write things down that I might use in my act. I’ve always been very observant and found humor in the small things. As a husband and father, I am definitely getting new content at this stage of life.”
RANDI MAZZELLA is a freelance writer specializing in parenting, teen issues, mental health, and wellness.
