Best of Leanne Morgan: From Stand-Up to Sitcom Star

*This transcript was auto-generated*

Zac Miller:

Hello and welcome to the Kim Gravel Show. I am Zac Miller, the show's producer. Kim is not here this week, but she gave me a really great challenge. She asked me to put together a best of episode featuring Leanne Morgan, who has been on her show two times. She is blowing up right now. She is everywhere. She has a new sitcom that just came out on Netflix a few months ago. Her comedy is exploding all over the Internet.

Zac Miller:

And we thought it would be incredible to see some of the previously unreleased video from the first time we had her on the show, which was before we were even doing a video show. So what you're gonna see is unreleased zoom footage from Leannee's first interview with us, as well as a bunch of clips from a more recent interview. It is incredible. It is so much fun. Leanne even talks about how her dream was to be a sitcom star. And here she is achieving her dreams. It's so funny. It's so much fun.

Zac Miller:

It's some of our most popular episodes ever. So check it out. Here's the best of Leanne Morgan.

Kim Gravel:

And listen, I've got my water. So I'm. I'm. Listen, I put a little something, something in it. I got the electrolytes going. My son's got me going on this electrolyte thing.

Zac Miller:

When you said he put a little something, something in it, I was like.

Kim Gravel:

Did you see me? I know.

Zac Miller:

I was like, kim, you don't drink, so I don't like what. What you put in there, Kim.

Kim Gravel:

Well, and then I said, my sons are teaching me. I was like, oh, that don't sound good at all.

Zac Miller:

These high schoolers, you know, they're bad influence, Kim.

Kim Gravel:

You think I trust them as far as I can pick their tails up and throw them? I do not. But anyway, that's a whole nother show. Let's get back to business. We've had this guest on the show before. We both fell in love with her. I was already in love with her. I'm a big fan. And since then.

Kim Gravel:

Not to say she came on our show and blew up, but I'm just saying.

Zac Miller:

That's the Kim Gravel bump, baby.

Kim Gravel:

I'm just saying. I'm just. I'm kidding you. She has. Her career has just taken off. We had to have her back on the show. She's so relatable. She isn't afraid to be a Southern mom who tells it like it.

Kim Gravel:

And y', all, she was just most recently named Forbes 50 over 50. Leanne Morgan, welcome To the Kim Gravel Show. We are super fancy here, woman.

Leanne Morgan:

Y' all are. Who's saying that?

Kim Gravel:

We had to hire somebody just for you.

Zac Miller:

Just for you.

Leanne Morgan:

Oh, my Lord. Can I have that?

Zac Miller:

You can, you can, you can.

Kim Gravel:

Harmony's everything, honey. We spare no expense here, Leanne. None.

Leanne Morgan:

Oh, my gosh. Well, I've never had anything like that. Thank you, girl.

Kim Gravel:

I love you so much. Okay, I'm so glad you're here, because this is podcast is going everywhere, and I want everyone to know about you and just experience you. Girl, what in the world? Is God good or what? Do we need to just talk about that first?

Leanne Morgan:

I've done this for 20 something and, you know, barely nobody cared. I would get television deals, but they wouldn't make it. But I, you know, things were really not great, right? And then this to happen to me at 57, after I've raised my children. Yeah, I know that was God's timing, but can.

Kim Gravel:

Can we talk about that a little bit? Because I know you're not shy about your faith, and, you know, I'm not about mine, but there. There's something about his timing that A is unpredictable and B is bigger than we ever dreamed. Would you say can you relate to that?

Leanne Morgan:

I can, because I knew this. I felt this would happen to me when I was a child, like, 9 or 10 years old. I feel like God revealed it to me.

Kim Gravel:

I was gonna say, did you know that was your calling?

Leanne Morgan:

I did. Well, I thought I would think it, and then I'd think, am I crazy? Nobody else in Adams, Tennessee, is talking about being a movie star. Is it just me? Am I alone? Then I got to thinking. As I got older, I thought, am I like one of those kids on American Idol that think they can sing? You know? And I thought, maybe I'm crazy. And then. But I feel like God always revealed it to me and just wait. Just wait. And through bad times and when nothing was happening and bad things were happening, and.

Leanne Morgan:

And I would say, God, why? What? What is this? What? And he would speak to me and say, just hold on. Trust me. Just hold on. And it would always be about my. About this happening for me, it's the.

Kim Gravel:

Beautiful thing about God, too, is that when he gives it to you, he don't just give it to you. He gives it through you to other people as well. And to me, that's what you're doing. Like, how you say that little woman in Iowa, Kevin said, you got me through chemo. And then how you're inspiring women and men that are in this age of their life, this time of their life, this season, to get out and do what your dreams and goals are. Isn't that the truth, though? He's so omniscient. Omnipotent. Whatever that word is.

Kim Gravel:

He's so that.

Leanne Morgan:

Yes. And just. Yes, all of that. You are so smart and you can articulate well the things that I set blubber over. But yes, he is so big and carries us in the palm of his hand. And he knows what? Like the things. You know, I've shot a movie with Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrers.

Kim Gravel:

Girl, that was my next question, and.

Leanne Morgan:

That came out of nowhere. Well, I know where that was. That was a God thing.

Kim Gravel:

You have helped me get through a mini A night. That sounds weird. Don't take that wrong. When I was sitting on the couch at Covid, eating a bag of Oreos, and I would sit there and my kids, like, right up on me. You know what I'm saying? Just right up under me. And they're old. They're like 13 and 15 now, but just all up in my grill. My husband.

Kim Gravel:

Your videos. Y' all go listen to this woman's videos. Leanne, how did you.

Leanne Morgan:

What? Thank you. How?

Kim Gravel:

When? Where? What has caused you to be this phenomenon?

Leanne Morgan:

Oh, you don't. Well, I've done it 22 years.

Kim Gravel:

It always starts with that. Well, I've done it a half a dec. I mean, a quarter of a century. I have.

Leanne Morgan:

I got started. And I think people are shocked by that because they think I'm just coming on the scene.

Kim Gravel:

You're overnight people that know me.

Leanne Morgan:

Yes. I wish that I was so brilliant that I like Jerry Seinfeld, that I could look at a cotton ball and write a bet. But I don't. It don't work that way for me. I talk about what happened, you know, when my kids were little on a T ball field or, you know, when I was pregnant, found out I was pregnant with my third baby. But it's all from, you know, just stories that have happened.

Kim Gravel:

I can relate to you in so many ways. What is it like being your age? And I'm 50. I just turned 50 this year. My career has just is more on fire than it has ever been. And you are, too. And I just talked to another woman about this the other day. What is it about women at our age that people are really turning on to now?

Leanne Morgan:

And isn't it wonderful? And I think. I don't know if it's that I Finally. I mean, I'm comfortable with who I am, and this is who it is, and take it or leave it and that people are attracted to that, you know, because everything.

Kim Gravel:

People love that.

Leanne Morgan:

Yeah. Everything on Instagram is, you know, and everybody's fanny's big. You know, when I was growing up, my fanny's big, But I was ashamed of it. They made us feel ashamed of it. And now everybody's got a big fanny and a little waist and some yoga britches, and everybody looks contoured. And I. And there's times when my baby child, who's a professional makeup artist, she'll bake and contour me, but baking, she does all that. But.

Leanne Morgan:

But I think people want real. I really do. And especially the horror that we're in and the world coming to an end and Jesus coming back, which I think he is. I mean, you know, good night.

Kim Gravel:

Listen, I want to be caught up with him when he comes. I do, too.

Leanne Morgan:

I want to go, too. I don't want to stay down here and fight.

Kim Gravel:

I don't want to sit down. I want to be beside you because I know we gonna laugh and eat the whole way up.

Leanne Morgan:

Eat and have a bowl. Yes, we would. Yes, we would. I'm a glass half full kind of girl. I feel like I'm pretty positive, you know, except when I feel fat, I'm going through, like, perimenopause. My thyroid medicine's all.

Kim Gravel:

I'm full blown menopausal. Like, it's been a while. And not. Not to overshare, but my cycle is so irregular. It's like, you know, oh, you're in it.

Leanne Morgan:

You're in.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, I'm in it. And I think I'm early. Menopause. My mom went through it. She went through it for 10 years. She was evil.

Leanne Morgan:

Perimenopause lasts 10 years. They don't tell you that.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, is that what Menopause. Maybe that's what I'm in. Maybe that's what I'm in.

Leanne Morgan:

You're in Peri. You're in Peri because your cycle's getting funky. And, you know, I had a podcast called Sweaty and Pissed Menopause and more. Did you know that? With my nurse practitioner, who is brilliant.

Kim Gravel:

Help me, Jesus.

Leanne Morgan:

Sweaty and pissed. Menopause and more. Start listening to that. We don't do it anymore, but it was very successful.

Zac Miller:

It's super fun. I listened to a few of them when we were prepping for. For this episode.

Leanne Morgan:

Well, and. And she talked about medical Stuff. And I told. You know, I talked about keto bean recipes, you know, and Johnny Cash is in heaven. I believe he's a believer. You know, I mean, I said, crazy mess. But she talked about.

Leanne Morgan:

She is a hormone guru. Okay. And she said, perimenopause lasts 10 years.

Kim Gravel:

Wow.

Leanne Morgan:

When you get into full menopause, they know what to do because you're. You're not up and down right now. You're like a middle school girl. That's what you're like.

Kim Gravel:

Well, and my son is 15, and he's evil, too. It's like, I'm just, like. With his hormones and my hormones. And then we both eaten. Like, we're. I mean, y'.

Leanne Morgan:

All.

Kim Gravel:

This is. True story, Leanne. And then. I don't know. I feel like I've known you forever. But I found a. I had hidden a box of Whitman's chocolate from Valentine's in my bottom drawer, and I had forgotten about it. And last night, I opened that drawer, and I almost started speaking in tongues running up down the bedroom.

Kim Gravel:

I was like, halleluj. Oh, God. I found the Whitman's chocolate. I thought I had hit the motherlode.

Leanne Morgan:

You did. You did. I love a Whitman's box of chocolates. And I don't eat all of them. Cause I don't like a cream.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, okay.

Leanne Morgan:

But I do love a good solid chocolate. And I like a caramel, and I like.

Kim Gravel:

But you don't do the marshmallow stuff on the little.

Leanne Morgan:

I'm not crazy about it. My husband will eat it. He'll eat anything. But you need to get yourself straightened out. Get somebody that will listen to you. I would get a female. A nurse practitioner or a PA Somebody that's been trained in hormones. Women need to know on this podcast that they do that bioidentical hormones are very protective for your heart and all kinds of things that they didn't know about.

Leanne Morgan:

So you need to get.

Kim Gravel:

Well, does it help with the chin hairs that are growing out of my chin?

Leanne Morgan:

Well, you may be. You may. Sounds like you're producing a lot of testosterone and that can surge. So. Yes. That is a big, black fish hair coming out of your. It could be out of your eyebrow. I've got one that comes out of my eyebrow that's the size of this mouse.

Leanne Morgan:

And then I've got. I had them on my chin. They're gone now. I used to when I would be pregnant, there would be one come out of my stomach.

Kim Gravel:

Well, I've had them come out of stomach in other areas.

Leanne Morgan:

Yeah.

Kim Gravel:

The areola.

Leanne Morgan:

Yeah. That's probably a little test. Yeah, that's. Oh, that's a little testosterone right there. So you need to talk to somebody, but don't let people put pellets in you, because you'll think, oh, I get a pellet. I want to do it with my husband. And then he's going to give me a new purse. That pellet will put a big rush of testosterone, and you'll be a whore, and it'll be fun and it'll all be great.

Leanne Morgan:

And then that dips off, and then you'll be sitting in a closet turning a lamp on and on. Don't do that. Take some steady A cream, you know?

Kim Gravel:

Do you see what I'm saying, Zac? The woman is just. She's just winning the lamp on and off.

Leanne Morgan:

This is what changed for me because I was really getting down. Things were really not going well. I had done a dry bar special. I had gotten a lot of views.

Kim Gravel:

About, when did that happen? When was all that happening in relation to the blow up?

Leanne Morgan:

That was in 2000, 2018, I believe I shot that. And the dry bar came out and it got a lot of views and I got some fans, but I could not sell tickets. Nobody cared. My manager was putting me in comedy clubs, and I was not selling. Not many comedy clubs. A lot of people wouldn't book me. And they were saying, we love her. She's sweet.

Leanne Morgan:

She doesn't get drunk and fight in the parking lot, but we're not gonna have her back. She can't sell tickets. And then I was getting a lot of work. It was sweet. It was like a lot of churches, women's groups, and I love those things are easy, fun. You get a bunch of women together and they're selling Mary Kay in the lobby and there's a taco truck out front. You could get up there and just spin your own purse and they go nuts. Cause women are so fun together.

Leanne Morgan:

But I was doing a lot of those kind of things where they would say, well, we really don't have a big budget and then we can't pick you up at the airport. So I'd get in an Uber with somebody that I thought was gonna murder me. And then, you know, or say to me, I've never felt this way about anybody in my life. I'm gonna need your phone number. I'm in love with you. And you're like, what? So it was a year of that that I was torn down. And I thought, if this is. And I remember praying about it and Saying, God, if this is what it's going to be.

Leanne Morgan:

I've had a good time, I've had a good run, but I, you know, I can't do this. I don't want to be scared. I don't want to be worn down for no money, you know, for very little money. This is not. I'm okay, I'll go to work at Target.

Kim Gravel:

Right? And then you'd get a discount. Least you'd get a discount, girl.

Leanne Morgan:

And I love a Target. But last ditch effort. What I started doing is I was. I'd always been a comedy fan and I had been watching. I've always been a Jim Gaffigan fan, and I'm good friends with Nate Borgazzi, and Nate Borgazzi was blowing up and I was watching what he was doing. And I think this is important. In anybody's line of work, if you see somebody successful that's doing what you want to do, what are they doing? Watch them, see what they're doing. Learn from somebody.

Leanne Morgan:

So I started watching what they were doing, and I said to my manager at the time, I said, they have got social media people, and I'm up here, you know, putting up pictures of beagles and dachshunds, and I don't know what I'm doing. And he didn't understand how it worked, how impactful it is. And he goes, I don't know. And I go, I think I need social media people. And he goes, you can't afford it. He, like, tried to talk me out. Yeah, Nobody reads the newspaper anymore. Nobody's listened.

Leanne Morgan:

I mean, there are radio stations, but it's just a whole different world. And I realized, and I give myself that credit, I'll give myself a Snoop Dogg pat on the back.

Zac Miller:

There you go. Brush your shoulder off.

Leanne Morgan:

Yeah. Because Snoop Dogg says, you know, sometimes you got to say, you know what I think? Thank myself for doing that.

Kim Gravel:

I want to thank me. Yeah, I want to thank me.

Leanne Morgan:

I want to thank me for working like a mule. But also, I thought I went against my manager and I said, I'm doing. I'm doing this. And I know it's expensive, but it was the first time in 20 something years that I had really invested in my career. Like, I went years without a website. If I made money in gigs and, you know, I made money through the years, but not a lot, but it was okay. I would buy my children uniforms, I get their hair cut. That was kind of me and Chuck Morgan's silent thing.

Leanne Morgan:

If you're going to do this little thing called comedy. Then you can take care of the groceries and the, you know, whatever. So I only ever picked extries. Yeah. And I never put money into a website. I never saved any money. And he'd have to pay my taxes and that was a whole nother thing. April was a terrible time in our household.

Leanne Morgan:

But he would. But I didn't have a website. I didn't. I had like three headshots in 20 years, which is stupid. And I would get somebody's cousin to take my picture in the yard.

Kim Gravel:

Sure.

Leanne Morgan:

You know?

Kim Gravel:

Sure.

Zac Miller:

Totally been there.

Leanne Morgan:

So I decided to invest in myself. And I thought. And I told. I hired these young guys and I said, I'm going to give you all three months. That's all the money I got. But I made the decision. I'm gonna invest in myself. And if it doesn't work, that's okay.

Leanne Morgan:

That'll be God's sign. I'll go work at Target or I'll pop popcorn at a NASCAR track. I've always thought that would be a fun job too. And Bedern, if those young guys who were darling put one or two clips, I can't remember. But they went viral and it was different than drybar. Drybar went viral for me, but I could not sell tickets. I don't know what the difference was if people that watch Dry Bar, a lot of them don't go out. I don't know.

Leanne Morgan:

But that those clips caught fire just like somebody set off a match. And then I think people were like, well, what else does she have? Who is this woman?

Kim Gravel:

Right.

Leanne Morgan:

I think that's funny. I'll go look at that. And then they started calling comedy clubs all over the United States. We want Leanne Morgan. And I didn't even have an agent that agents would passed on me, would not take me. And I started selling out all over. And then this all happened after that.

Kim Gravel:

I think we've lived in such an age of filters and fake and presenting the best thing and putting on the best show and never showing your flaws or your problems or your upset. Like I said something the other day on air at qvc and I just said, I just want to just absolutely knock every teeth out of the mouths of my children. Cause they're teenagers and all they're doing now is like, ugh.

Kim Gravel:

Wha. I mean it's just the smart mouth, cocky little 16 year old. I said, I brought you in, I'll take you out. I mean, you know, and I saw more tops because I Said that it's because it's relatable.

Leanne Morgan:

I was in LA working on my new hour for this Just Getting Started tour. This is a whole new thing separate from Netflix. And my team, you know, said, oh, do you want to go to the famous Comedy Store? Which I had been there as a patron and. And I had loved it and like 30 years ago, and I dreamed of being on that stage. And they put me up. And they put me up in the belly room, which is the little room, like, where people get. Start open mic. Cause it's a big deal to get on that main stage.

Leanne Morgan:

And people like Quentin Tarantino and, you know, Elon Musk are watching the main stage, and they were like, we're not gonna put you on that stage. We'll put you in this little hole called the belly ring. So anyway, I get up there and I'm talking about some of my new material that is very relatable and about my kids and them growing up. And I had to follow a guy talking about porn and his girlfriend catching him watching. I don't even know. And then I go out in the hallway at the comedy. I mean, at the Comedy Store, and they're like, get out of the hallway. You can't even stand in the hallway because you're not anybody.

Leanne Morgan:

And I go and stand outside, and the young people that had been in the Belly Room came by and they said, can I hug you?

Kim Gravel:

Oh, Leanne.

Leanne Morgan:

And they hugged me, and I go again. And I think that you're. You're onto something with. Everybody is sick of the world is. Seems like it's coming to an end. The world's on fire. And I think everybody. Yeah.

Leanne Morgan:

And I think everybody is torn up and worried. We got enough to worry about that. I don't think. I think when they hear somebody like me, who's a mama, who talks about something familiar when they were with their mama in a minivan or whatever, it's comfort to them.

Kim Gravel:

It's home. It's home.

Leanne Morgan:

Yeah. And I think I've hit that niche. But I have raised a bunch of kids, and I am a grandmama. And I do cook and I do like to do people's laundry, but I do. I think people, young people, too, need just comfort and not. You're right. A big filter that everybody's not. Everybody doesn't have millions of dollars.

Leanne Morgan:

Everybody's not in a bikini on a yacht. All of that business.

Kim Gravel:

And I want to know who those people are that are. Because I think it's less than half a percent of the population. I hadn't been in a bikini ever. I couldn't even wear a bikini when I could, you know, it's just one of those things, Leanne. You know what I mean?

Leanne Morgan:

Oh, I wish if we could tell every young person in the world, wear that bikini when you think you are not what you think.

Kim Gravel:

The fashion.

Kim Gravel:

You are dead wrong. Dead wrong. I would kill to be had that body that I hated back when I was in my 20s. I would absolutely just go and take somebody out to have that back.

Leanne Morgan:

I know. And then my little mama says to me, who's 80? Who's so wise, Leanne, don't be unhappy with this body now. Cause you're gonna dream. You're gonna wish you had that body. And this body's been good to me. You know, I could get pregnant like that.

Kim Gravel:

I could breastfeed.

Leanne Morgan:

You know, I have eaten white flour and sugar and drank Diet Coke your entire life. I've been participated for 30 years, and my body's still working for me.

Kim Gravel:

It's a miracle of God. The kidneys are there. Everything. Handle a lot of pain. Had three children. Birthed three children. Through your private parts.

Leanne Morgan:

Well, two through my doings. One C section, honey. So there's all kinds of stuff going on.

Kim Gravel:

No, no, no. I've never heard that. Two, through my doings.

Leanne Morgan:

Doings.

Zac Miller:

I'm gonna have to beat my. Ain't through it.

Kim Gravel:

I don't know.

Zac Miller:

I'm beeping it.

Kim Gravel:

No, you don't beep it. Two through my doings. You have to say that. Cause my doings ain' very much lately, so I love calling it doings. Travis is going to be getting a doings text. I'm going to say my doings.

Zac Miller:

Oh, my gosh.

Kim Gravel:

That's overshadowing.

Leanne Morgan:

I like.

Kim Gravel:

Leanne is always sharing too much. She's sharing too much. You're going an extra mile, and I love it.

Zac Miller:

I'm going to break into this conversation right now because, Leanne, you're not going to get away without having to do a Zac attack.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, Lord.

Zac Miller:

So this is a segment of the show where I break in to do a game with our guest. Kim has no idea what this game is going to be. I have not shared this with her. Leanne, since your comedy is so much about, like, stories from you and your kids and your family, I thought it would be fun to explore what you were like as a kid. So what better way to do that than for you and Kim to both take a buzzfeed Quiz that's called oh, Lord. Sorry, but if you did more than 13 of these things as a teenager, I'm grounding you.

Leanne Morgan:

Okay?

Zac Miller:

So we're gonna find out, basically, if you were a good kid as a teen or kind of a troublemaker.

Leanne Morgan:

Okay.

Kim Gravel:

Okay.

Leanne Morgan:

I'd like to know. I can't even remember.

Kim Gravel:

I can't.

Zac Miller:

There's a lot of questions. We may not get to all of them, but let's see where we're at. I'm gonna keep four, and we'll see who has more.

Leanne Morgan:

I like my darling. Okay.

Zac Miller:

And just to give credit, this is written by Kelly Martinez on the BuzzFeed staff, so. Thanks, Kelly. We'll put quiz into our show notes and we'll start. Leanne, did you ever ditch school?

Leanne Morgan:

No.

Zac Miller:

Kim?

Kim Gravel:

No.

Leanne Morgan:

No. I'm a real follower. No, that freaked me out. But I did other horrible things.

Kim Gravel:

Okay.

Leanne Morgan:

Horrible, sinful, horrible.

Zac Miller:

Can't wait. Can't wait. Were you ever grounded?

Leanne Morgan:

Yes. Yes. But maybe once. Not much.

Kim Gravel:

I'm still grounded. Leanne, my parents. I'm still in trouble right now for talking back to my mother.

Zac Miller:

I thought, you know, I thought I was like. Kim sort of was, like, from what I know is, like, kind of a goody two shoes as a kid.

Kim Gravel:

I thought, I have a smart mouth. I had a smart mouth. Yeah.

Zac Miller:

Okay. Leanne, do you remember what you were grounded for?

Leanne Morgan:

I think. Yeah, I think I was. I think I got caught making out with somebody.

Kim Gravel:

What?

Zac Miller:

All right, well, that's a question for later.

Kim Gravel:

Okay, let's save that. Let's save that.

Leanne Morgan:

I've always loved men.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, I love them, too, honey.

Zac Miller:

Well, I'm happy with that.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, okay. That's a whole nother podcast. Keep going.

Zac Miller:

Zac, did you ever get detention?

Leanne Morgan:

No.

Kim Gravel:

Yes, I did.

Zac Miller:

Oh, Kim, you're three for three right now.

Kim Gravel:

Well, I tried to take over my. My course teacher, Ms. Edwards. I just thought she was the dumbest thing on the planet and I could just teach the class. And so she finally gave me detention after, like, four, you know, infractions.

Leanne Morgan:

I bet you could have taught it.

Kim Gravel:

I sure could have. Leanne. I'm a type A person. She was slow, like, come on, lady. I love.

Zac Miller:

Ms. Edwards, did you ever throw a party while your parents were away?

Leanne Morgan:

No.

Kim Gravel:

No, I didn't either. My dad would have killed me.

Leanne Morgan:

We lived out in the country. It was dark.

Kim Gravel:

It was dark.

Zac Miller:

Okay, this is. Okay, this is a good one. And I think maybe we might get a yes out of Leanne. I don't know. Did you ever take your parents car without permission?

Kim Gravel:

No, Leanne, I am a heathen. I took it out. I didn't even start it. I just put it in neutral and we pushed it out the garage. It was a brown Malibu. Leann, you did nothing.

Leanne Morgan:

No, because I'm from the country and we all start driving real young. Like they said, get in the car and go get that bale of honey.

Kim Gravel:

I mean, I didn't.

Leanne Morgan:

Yeah, it wasn't fun.

Kim Gravel:

It wasn't fun.

Leanne Morgan:

It wasn't fun. I could drive anytime I wanted to. Yeah.

Zac Miller:

Did you ever. And so this is for you, Leanne. Did you ever get caught hooking up with somebody?

Leanne Morgan:

Yes. Oh Lord, all the time, honey. I was out making out with somebody all the time and they'd be like.

Kim Gravel:

Who was your first boyfriend? Do you remember his name?

Leanne Morgan:

Yes. Warren Corbin. Little Warren Corbin. And he was precious. And I tormented him and I would make out little Warren Corbin in his. He had a Monte Carlo. 79 Monte Carlo. And sometimes I talk about it on stage.

Leanne Morgan:

And he is a precious, precious human being. And he was darling. He was my first boyfriend.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, I love it. I remember my first love too.

Zac Miller:

Who is that, Kim?

Kim Gravel:

Steven Pereira. I'll never forget it.

Zac Miller:

These little boys sound so cute.

Leanne Morgan:

Mine was cute.

Kim Gravel:

Mine was too. And sweet too.

Leanne Morgan:

Yeah. And I probably weighed more than my first boyfriend, but.

Kim Gravel:

Me too. I know I do. I did then too. My butt was. And that was a rule. I thought, you know, should my butt be bigger than the man I go with?

Zac Miller:

Did you ever blow off studying to do something more fun?

Leanne Morgan:

Oh, yeah, Lord. Yeah. I didn't study. Yeah, I didn't need that. Yeah. My Methodist minister had to write my junior term paper. Cause I blew it off and procrastinated. And I went to him and said, oh, chat, you've got to help me write this fricking term paper.

Leanne Morgan:

He was like, okay. Because he knew I was torn up and he helped me write it.

Kim Gravel:

We have, what we like to call in is the rapid fire questions. Okay? So I'm just going to ask you three or four questions and I don't want you to think about it because you're so quick witted. You won't. You'll just whatever rolls off the tongue. Say it. What do you always take with you on the road when you travel?

Leanne Morgan:

Lots of medicine. Anti diarrhea, anti nausea. You know, I just got this thing like I'm worried, something, you know, what in the world? It's just me. What am I going to do if something happens? So I Take a lot of pills. I always worry that the airport, they're going to go. She needs to be in the hospital because I carry so many pills.

Kim Gravel:

What's your favorite junk food?

Leanne Morgan:

Oh, Lord, I'm a cake person. I like cake. But then when you say junk food, Lord, I love a cheeseburger and a French fry, but I love a chicken tender. I mean, I don't know. There's a lot. There's a lot. I like junk food. I like a good Frito.

Leanne Morgan:

Oh, my Lord. A Frito chip.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, yeah. Fritos are good. Yep. Fritos in the.

Leanne Morgan:

No fish.

Kim Gravel:

Dean's Ranch dip. Have you ever Dean's French onion dip?

Leanne Morgan:

Yes.

Kim Gravel:

Okay. All right, last question, I think, is our most important one. Who is your celebrity crush?

Leanne Morgan:

Matthew McConaughey.

Kim Gravel:

He's a good one.

Leanne Morgan:

He's a good one. And I. I feel like I have a lot of the same philosophy he has. I believe in dreams. I believe in going forward. I believe in destiny. I believe in. And, you know, he's a believer.

Leanne Morgan:

You know, I know God's got his hand on me. I just love him. And I think he's beautiful. I thought he was beautiful. But I also think he's some of that old school kind of guy that could kick a door in if you needed him to. You know what I mean? And I like that. I like it when a man can kick a door in, dig a hole, build a fire. You know? I do.

Leanne Morgan:

And I think he's got that.

Kim Gravel:

He's got it. Now, does Mr. Morgan have it? Yes.

Leanne Morgan:

If there's a terrorist attack, y' all come to my house. Okay, I'm coming to it. It doesn't matter. I mean, he was never in the military, and he likes to play golf, and he loves a club sandwich and a Diet Coke and tennis. But if foot push comes to shove, honey, he could tend to. Yeah, he could build a bunker.

Kim Gravel:

He could build a bunker.

Leanne Morgan:

Yeah, he could. He'd knock somebody's teeth out. Yeah.

Kim Gravel:

How long did it take your kiddos to get comfortable? Were they always comfortable with you being on stage telling all their business?

Leanne Morgan:

Yes. Now, in middle school, they said, do not speak my name out of your mouth like Will Smith and Chris Rock. They said, do not. And I didn't. I was. I had said one thing about Charlie going through puberty.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, Lord.

Leanne Morgan:

WIBK radio in Knoxville. And I thought he was at school, and I thought. Well, I didn't think I'd seen anything wrong. And I was just talking about him going through puberty. And one of his little friends was going to an orthodontist appointment and heard it.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, Lord.

Leanne Morgan:

And came to school and said, you mom was talking about your puberty. And Charlie said, do not ever do that again. And I didn't. I did not. I took it very seriously. And Maggie also said, do not come to this middle school with those yoga pants on. But anyway, I need to write that down.

Kim Gravel:

How do you handle criticism from people on social media? And do you get a lot of it? You probably don't get a lot of it, but if you do, how do you handle it? There's a lot of people out there that are jealous or that, you know, sit behind a keyboard and can bully. How do you handle criticism?

Leanne Morgan:

Well, when drybar came out, I got more hateful comments than I've ever. And I think we all did. On drybar. There was something about that time and maybe went into the pandemic, and people were just. I don't know what was wrong, but they said horrible things to me, and it got me down. It got me down. And then my middle child, who is so smart, Maggie said, you know what, Mom? I was at her apartment in Chattanooga, and she said, I was telling her how it really hurt my feelings. And she goes, you know what? Jimmy Fallon has people on.

Leanne Morgan:

And they read them. Like, Jennifer Aniston will read what people have said about her. Blake Shelton. I think it was Jimmy Fallon. Maybe it was. Yeah, I think so. But anyway, these stars would take that power back by reading the comments and get so tickled over them because they're crazy. And Maggie said, let's do that, Mom.

Leanne Morgan:

Let me film you. I was sitting on her bed that we bought at Costco, and she said, let me film you and read some of these crazy comments. And we did. And we laughed so hard that we were weak. And it was stuff like, I'd rather have an abdominal wound than listen to you. You're so not funny. Or you said the word butthole. And I cannot listen to comedy innocently anymore.

Leanne Morgan:

And, I mean, just stuff that had worried me to death. And then when you read it out loud, you think, oh, my gosh, that is so funny. And it really took that. I got my power back. And I thought, you know what? God loved that little man that would rather have an abdominal wound than hearing me talk, God bless him. And they asked me in Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal in July. I was part of that. And I was in the Variety's top 10 comics to watch.

Leanne Morgan:

And on that panel, they ask us what do you do about these people, these haters and these people that comment on stuff? And there was a lot of young comedians coming up on that panel. And Lord, I was the oldest one and a grandmama, and I just said, you know what? That's sad. That is sad. If somebody's got to sit and have time to do that, God love them, you know, pray for them. Because that. I mean, I do. I think that's sad. When you have grandbabies and you.

Kim Gravel:

Okay.

Leanne Morgan:

Oh, my gosh. I hope you receive this. I mean, it is preaching. It is a whole nother love. It's not better than your children. Because I adore my children and I've been in love with them and I'm crazy about them and I'm very close to all of them.

Kim Gravel:

Were you crazy about them? I know, but were you crazy? Okay, help me out. Personally, I'm be selfish here for a second. Were you crazy about them when they were teenagers? Leanne?

Leanne Morgan:

I did a whole bit about Maggie being so hateful when she was 16. It went viral. It had 50 million views. And I think it was because. And people bring teenage girls to my shows.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, my gosh.

Leanne Morgan:

And they'll go at her and then. And she'll go. But my. When Maggie was 16, I think this is what I think happens. I think that they know they're leaving. They have to grow up. They're worried. They feel a tug away from you.

Leanne Morgan:

They know they've got to go make these decisions. They got to take that dern act.

Kim Gravel:

I know the devil. That's the devil.

Leanne Morgan:

Awful. And it means nothing anyway.

Kim Gravel:

But you're like, you better get a good grade, but it means nothing. But you better get a.

Leanne Morgan:

It's going to affect your future. No, it won't. If y' all knew what I made on my act, I don't know how the University of Tennessee let me in, but I think back then, it was just. They didn't put that much into it. But I will go to my grave knowing my ACT score. My children, when I get the flu and I'm have. And I'm like hallucinating and I've got a high fever, they're like, what's your ACT score? We're trying to find it out. And I do not.

Leanne Morgan:

They'll never know it.

Kim Gravel:

You'll take it into the grave. Take it to the grave.

Leanne Morgan:

But I think that God makes them hateful because he knows that you're torn up, you're grieving. Cause they're leaving. They don't want to be Dependent on you. But they are. But they don't want to be. And they're struggling and they're trying and all that together. I believe that God allows that. And they get so hateful that then you can let them go on to college or wherever they're going to go.

Leanne Morgan:

And it's so much easier because they have been and so hateful, and you're scared of them. But they come back around. They come back around and they're your very best friend.

Kim Gravel:

All right, Leanne. That's where I'm at, honey. I am at the. Get on up and get your college cup going. It's time. You got a year, baby. You out. Bye, Felicia.

Kim Gravel:

I mean, that's where we're at. And then the next night, I'm like, oh, God, what am I gonna do with it? Okay, so I'm an emotional wreck, too. That's it. I'm saying God has made them evil so that I want to kick them out. But they come back around.

Leanne Morgan:

But they come back around. Now they'll be in their 20s. It's going to take a long time.

Kim Gravel:

Well, I could take a break for a minute. I could use a break.

Leanne Morgan:

And I think, see, boys are even. I mean, girls are hateful and cut you quick, like, tell you stuff about your hair or something that messes with you. But boys, like, just start, you know, ignoring you or saying, rolling, eye rolling. And that's hard because that's your boy.

Kim Gravel:

Yes.

Leanne Morgan:

But they are really trying to be independent, and they want to hold on.

Kim Gravel:

And that's a good thing.

Leanne Morgan:

And that's a good thing.

Kim Gravel:

It's a good thing. It's a good thing.

Leanne Morgan:

If they were down and wanted to stay up under you, that would be something to worry about.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, I'm not. Well, mine are ready to spread their wings and prepare to fly, which is good. But the eye rolls and the bra, I mean, the verbiage they use, I don't even understand. I think I got to Google it to see what they say. And then they talk. So. So. And I'm like, what did you just say? I don't understand.

Kim Gravel:

So I was. I mean, they talk like they don't. They don't enunciate. I know. So. But you know what? I'm going home tonight. Exactly what I'm doing. I'm putting on the Ann Morgan special.

Kim Gravel:

I'm every woman. And y' all better watch it, too. Okay, Lian, before we let you go, you know, we do this every show. We ask rapid fire questions. Rapid fire questions. I don't want you to think about it. I just want you to say the first thing that comes to your mind.

Leanne Morgan:

Okay.

Kim Gravel:

All right. When you are popping your popcorn at the NASCAR track, do you like it sweet or salty?

Leanne Morgan:

Salty.

Kim Gravel:

Okay. If your kids wrote a thank you note about something from their childhood, what would they thank you for?

Leanne Morgan:

Being fun.

Kim Gravel:

Was your husband not fun?

Leanne Morgan:

No, he's not fun and he knows it. And he don't want anybody to be fun, and he takes pride in it. I think they would say, thank you, mom, for being so fun. We had a ball.

Kim Gravel:

Okay. If biscuits could talk, what advice would they give?

Leanne Morgan:

They would say, you probably shouldn't be eating me, girl.

Kim Gravel:

If your life was made into a movie, if your life story was made into a movie, what would the title be?

Leanne Morgan:

What pops in my mind is jewelry. Jewelry girl. General Jewelry girl. Yeah.

Kim Gravel:

Jewelry Girl.

Leanne Morgan:

Jewelry. Yeah.

Kim Gravel:

Because. Oh, my God.

Leanne Morgan:

Jewelry in women's houses. Like Mary Kay. When I got started, I had no.

Kim Gravel:

Oh, my gosh. I can't wait to hear that. I can't wait to read your memoir. Who would play your lead? Who would play you in the movie?

Leanne Morgan:

I think. I think little Reese Witherspoon could now.

Kim Gravel:

Say the same thing.

Leanne Morgan:

I weigh a hundred, probably 200 pounds more than she does.

Kim Gravel:

Doesn't matter. What? It doesn't matter.

Leanne Morgan:

She comes to my waist.

Kim Gravel:

But.

Leanne Morgan:

But I mean, I think she could do it because she's totally do it right.

Kim Gravel:

No, listen, I always say, like, for me, if anybody ever play, I want my player to play up. I don't want it to be the real me. I want it to put. I need. Elevate me on screen. I'm fine with that. Yes.

Leanne Morgan:

I'm fine with that.

Kim Gravel:

Okay. If we peeked inside your fridge, what would we see?

Leanne Morgan:

You would see a lot of pickles. I've got a thing. I love pickles.

Kim Gravel:

Sweet or like butter? Cause people don't know about bread and butter. That's very southern. They bread and butter. Pickles are huge.

Leanne Morgan:

Bread and butter and relish and chuckle salad. Please don't bring any more bread and butter. But I get to the store and I'm like, oh, my gosh, do we have any bread and butter? So I buy more. So then it's a bunch of jars.

Kim Gravel:

That's mine too. I don't know what it is about the sweet relish now. Do you make egg salad with sweet relish?

Leanne Morgan:

Yes.

Kim Gravel:

Okay, so that's a southern thing, too. Most people don't do that.

Leanne Morgan:

Well, that's what I do.

Kim Gravel:

Yeah. And like, you go up north or they don't make egg salad. Or in California, they don't make egg salad with. With sweet relish. And they don't know what. They miss it.

Leanne Morgan:

They don't know what they're missing because it's like a big deviled egg.

Kim Gravel:

It's a fuel. Oh, okay. Moving on, because I'm hungry. If you were ever arrested in high school, what would it have been for?

Leanne Morgan:

Making out in people's private property.

Kim Gravel:

Okay.

Leanne Morgan:

In cars. Making out people's farms. Yeah.

Kim Gravel:

Okay. Okay. Well, that could have been illegal back then. Now I'll take. Just to make it out. Let's just keep it there. What's next for you?

Leanne Morgan:

I really hope to do more movies and television.

Kim Gravel:

I love it.

Leanne Morgan:

And I. Well, you know, when I got started, I wanted to be a sitcom star. Cause I'm that age where I grew up watching Roseanne and Ray Romano and Tim Allen and all. And that's what I really wanted. And I think that's more in my future now. But I loved. I enjoyed shooting a movie, and I. Maybe.

Leanne Morgan:

I think I can do it.

Kim Gravel:

I know you can not Meryl Streep.

Leanne Morgan:

But, I mean, I think I could do comedy, but that's. I think that's what I'd like to do.

Kim Gravel:

I think that's what you're gonna do. And we're gonna just sit back and watch it. I can't wait to have my appointment. TV with Ms. Leeann Morgan. Thank you for coming. I love you dearly.

Leanne Morgan:

Thank you, Kim. Thank you, angel, for lifting me up, you doll. Thank you, honey.

Kim Gravel:

Listen, you are one of a kind. And you know what? God don't make no junk or make mistakes. When he told you that at nine, he meant it. And I am just. I'm your biggest fan. There you go.

Leanne Morgan:

Thank you, Kim. Thank you.

Kim Gravel:

I love you.

Leanne Morgan:

Thank you. I love you.

Kim Gravel:

All right, come back. Come back after the next special so we can promote it, too, okay? 

Kim Gravel:

Zac Miller is the Executive Producer of the Kim Gravel Show. His production company is Uncommon Audio. Our Producer is Kathleen Grant, the Brunette Exec. Production help from Emily Bredin and Sara Noto. Our cover art is designed by Sanaz Huber at Memarian Creative. Our show is edited by Mike Kligerman. Our guest intros are performed by Roxy Reese. Our guest booking is done by Central Talent Booking. Our ads are furnished by True Native Media. And y'all, I want to give a big huge thank you to the entire team at QVC+ and a special thank you to our audience for making this community so strong. If you are still listening then you must have liked a few episodes along the way. So tell somebody about it. Tell somebody about this show and join our mailing list at kimgravelshow.com. I cannot do this show without you and so I thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening. I hope you gain a little bit of encouragement, light and love love from watching and listening to The Kim Gravel Show. I love you all so much. Till next time. Bye.