Inside Jeff Foxworthy's 35 Year Marriage
Renowned for his "You might be a redneck if..." quips, Jeff Foxworthy is undoubtedly one of the most popular funnymen to emerge from the Blue Collar Comedy circuit. Indeed, as one of those rare Republican stand-ups to largely avoid discussing politics, the Atlanta native has managed to build an audience on both sides of the spectrum.
Since arriving on the scene in the early 1990s, Foxworthy has achieved several triple-platinum selling albums, starred in his own eponymous sitcom and has hosted challenges based on everything from baking to the Bible. And in 2022, he proved he was still as relevant as ever when he bagged his very own Netflix special, "The Good Old Days."
And Foxworthy has been able to share his success with the same woman, Pamela Gregg. But what do we know about their long-lasting marriage? From comedy club beginnings and children to dream homes and downsizing, here's the lowdown.
They met at a comedy club
Jeff Foxworthy and Pamela Gregg's love story began at the kind of place not exactly renowned for its romance: a comedy club. Yes, the couple first met at an Atlanta venue named The Punchline where the former was in the very early stages of his stand-up career.
The future comedy icon was working at IBM when some coworkers suggest he try stand-up. While many novice comics might begin with open mic nights, his very first show was a stand-up contest. Talk about pressure. As he said at a one-on-one chat hosted by Buckhead Church, "This wasn't an amateur night, it was for working comedians." Although understandably nervous, Foxworthy obviously must have done a decent job as not only did he win the whole shebang, he also ended up on a date with Gregg, who happened to be in the audience.
"So the first night I was onstage, she was there, and I won the contest!" Foxworthy recalled to Closer Weekly. "She came up and talked to me. I was so nervous, I spilled my drink down her sweater and said, 'I guess you'll never go out with me,' and she said, 'Well, you haven't even asked.' An hour into the first date, I was like, 'Oh crap, I'm going to marry this girl.' So I met my wife and started my career on the same night!"
Jeff Foxworthy married Pamela Gregg in 1985
Jeff Foxworthy and Pamela Gregg obviously don't believe in long engagements. The pair said 'I do" to each other in 1985, just a year after they first met at Atlanta comedy club The Punchline. And the short time frame perhaps explains why the whole occasion was done on the cheap.
As reported by The Columbus Dispatch, Foxworthy takes great delight in telling their two daughters how different their parents' lives were before he became famous. They apparently couldn't even afford an official wedding photographer for their nuptials, instead capturing the event for posterity on a Polaroid camera.
But Foxworthy and Gregg are living proof that you don't need to spend a fortune to make a marriage work. Several decades on and the pair are still head over heels for each other, something which the former admits has taken him by surprise: "I came from a family where my dad was married six times. I never knew you could be married to someone for 23 years and still be crazy about them."
They first became parents in 1992
Jeff Foxworthy and Pamela Gregg first became parents in 1992 with the birth of daughter Jordan Foxworthy. Just two years later, they added to their family unit with the arrival of Juliane Foxworthy. And three decades on, both of their children appear to be thriving.
Per her Linkedin, Jordan reportedly works as a representative for Compassion International, a Christian humanitarian organization, having previously gained administrative experience during a stint with Foxworthy Outdoors, her dad's official website. Juliane, meanwhile, has also reportedly pursued an altruistic line of employment as a social worker.
Both were no doubt inspired by the mission work in Kenyan AIDS orphanages they embarked on as teens. As their father proudly recalled to ABC News in 2009, Jordan even received an invitation to a conference staged at the White House about children making a difference to the world. He also explained why he encouraged his offspring to embark on such a trip: "I initially did it because I want my kids to understand that we're really blessed the way we live and not everybody lives like this."
Jeff Foxworthy's career took them away from home
After several years on the Atlanta comedy circuit, Jeff Foxworthy was told that he needed to relocate to Los Angeles if he wanted to achieve a national breakthrough. Luckily for the stand-up, his wife Pamela Gregg agreed to the move with their daughters, although she probably didn't bank on just how long they'd be staying in the bright lights.
Per Atlanta Parent, Foxworthy initially only planned to up sticks temporarily but ended up staying in the City of Angels for almost eight years. By this point, the comedian had filmed his own eponymous sitcom, written several books, and established himself as one of America's most prominent blue-collar comedians. Even so, he was still warned by the industry that his family's move back to Atlanta was ill-advised.
"The American Bible Challenge" host told Atlanta Parent, "People in the business told me, 'Your career will be over.' It was one of those hold-your-nose-and-jump moments." But Foxworthy doesn't regret returning to his true hometown: "I'm so grateful they got to grow up here," he added, referring to his daughters getting the chance to lead a relatively normal life.
They built their dream home in 1997
When Jeff Foxworthy's career took off, he didn't waste much time in splashing the cash. Per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in 1997, just a few years after making his television and recording debut, the comedian and wife Pamela Gregg decided to build their very own dream home in an exclusive neighborhood north of Atlanta.
Alongside famous architect Budd Holden, the couple spent three years designing every nook and cranny of the 14,600-square-foot house after purchasing land on a cul-de-sac in a gated golf community Country Club of the South. It's a neighborhood that's attracted a number of A-listers, including music icon Whitney Houston and NBA star Allen Iverson. And Foxworthy and Gregg made sure they could show off their handiwork to numerous overnight guests by including no fewer than nine bathrooms and five bedrooms. The couple also chose to include a chef's kitchen, two-story room for the family, swimming pool and even their very own elevator.
Though he's now wealthy enough to shell out on things like jaw-dropping mansions, Foxworthy's never forgotten where he came from. As he once told People of Play, "No one was born with a silver spoon in their mouth. A plastic 'spork' from KFC maybe but no silver spoon."
They once shared the screen on Jeff Foxworthy's show
Pamela Gregg has largely stayed out of the spotlight since marrying funnyman Jeff Foxworthy in 1985. But there was one special occasion when she decided to join her husband in front of the cameras. And it was on his very own eponymous sitcom.
Yes, in 1997, Pamela played the character of Stella in "Gone Fishin," the second season 17th episode of "The Jeff Foxworthy Show." But the fact that it remains her one and only acting credit suggests that the thespian life wasn't for her.
Sadly, the sitcom was taken off air for good shortly after her cameo, although we're sure the two are entirely unrelated, of course. Inspired by Foxworthy's stand-up sets, the comedy had first been canceled after a single season on ABC in 1996 before getting a brief reprieve on rival network NBC. The series creator later told Entertainment Weekly that executives didn't know how to market his Southern brand of humor to a mainstream audience.
Jeff Foxworthy discusses his wife in his comedy
In 2022, Jeff Foxworthy was given his very own Netflix special, "The Good Old Days." Although the hour-long set was themed around the subject of nostalgia, it also incorporated plenty of material about his wife of 37 years, Pamela Gregg. We're just not sure whether she would have appreciated what he had to say.
As HITC noted in their review of the special, Foxworthy spent a good chunk of his routine digging into Pamela's packing habits, joking that she couldn't fit her must-haves in a carry-on even if they were heading to a nudist colony. The funnyman also discussed the time they spent together during the early stages of the pandemic, aping a minutes-long speech she made in which he lost track of what she was actually talking about.
And Foxworthy using his marriage for laughs didn't go unnoticed by the public, either. "Jeff Foxworthy says 'My wife!' more than Borat," quipped one Twitter user. Another particularly unimpressed viewer tweeted, "The only takeaway from this Jeff Foxworthy is that not only does he not like his wife, he also doesn't like anyone born since 1990."
They are both hands-on parents
In an interview with Atlanta Parent in 2017, Jeff Foxworthy paid tribute to his wife of 32 years, Pamela Gregg, describing her as the glue that keeps their entire family together. But that doesn't mean the "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth-Grader?" host takes a backseat role. Though he's been a celebrity his daughter's entire lives, he was very much a hands-on father — particularly when Jordan and Juliane Foxworthy were little. "I almost exclusively drove them to school each day. I read to them at night. I liked talking with them and being with them," he shared. Jeff's successful comedy career (read: lucrative) made it so he could fly back and forth from home and gigs more often than, say, an up-and-comer who has to spend a majority of their days either on the road or doing shows. "The other job I had was I wanted to show them in the way I treated their mom how they should expect to be treated by a guy," he added.
So does the red-blooded Jeff Foxworthy ever regret the fact that he never had a son? Well, not anymore. "The dad and daughter bond is just a special thing," he said in Atlanta Parent. "Before the girls were born, I would have said I always wanted to have boys because I like to bow hunt. The good Lord knew what I needed more."
The Foxworthy family turned down a reality show
Although Jeff Foxworthy is no stranger to discussing his marriage to Pamela Gregg in stand-up sets and in his books, the pair largely prefer to keep their private lives private. There's no doubt why they decided to turn down the chance to become the next Osbournes.
Indeed, back in the days when seemingly every celebrity with a family was offered a reality show, Foxworthy was approached by a cable network to allow the cameras to film him, his wife, and their two daughters going about their daily business at their Atlanta home. Unfortunately, for the unnamed network, the Grammy Award nominee had next to no interest.
Foxworthy later told The Columbus Dispatch, "I was like: 'Are you kidding me? You don't have enough money to come into my house with a TV camera!'" Luckily, this decision was also welcomed by his two kids who obviously had little desire to follow in the footsteps of Jack and Kelly Osbourne. "Even our girls said that would be the most boring show on television," he added.
Pamela Gregg prefers Jeff Foxworthy with mustache
Remember the public reaction when power balladeer Michael Bolton got rid of his signature mullet? Or when "Aquaman" star Jason Momoa shaved off his long beard? Or when Keri Russell bid farewell to her long, flowing curls? Well, there was a similar response in 2020 when Jeff Foxworthy decided to remove perhaps his most distinctive facial feature: his bushy mustache.
The funnyman had been inspired to switch up his look during the early stages of the pandemic. Unfortunately, his wife of 35 years Pamela Gregg, who had never seen what his upper lip looked like smooth, didn't appreciate his new grooming regime. During an appearance on "The Kelly Clarkson Show," Foxworthy recalled the moment he debuted his new look to his other half: "I walked out, and [Pamela] looked at me and said, 'Oh wow, grow it back.'"
Gregg wasn't the only naysayer, either. Foxworthy admitted that a significant portion of his fan base reacted the same way. "80% of 'em were like, 'No, no, no. You are supposed to have a mustache. Grow it back,'" he said. And Clarkson, who compared the comedian's mustache to Tom Selleck's, also agreed with the general consensus.
Jeff Foxworthy and Pamela Gregg are grandparents
Jeff Foxworthy once revealed to The Columbus Dispatch that one of his main life goals was to become a grandparent. And he got his wish in 2021 when his and wife Pamela Gregg's youngest daughter gave birth to a baby boy.
"Everyone else on this planet dropped a spot in my rankings," the "Bounty Hunters" regular gushed on Instagram while holding the newborn son of Juliane Foxworthy and her husband Brendan Corley. He later captioned another snap of the pair, "Nothing better than a visit with my grandson!" and another, "Me and my favorite guy on the planet."
Of course, Jeff has always been a family man. Speaking to Atlanta Parent in 2017, the funnyman made it clear exactly what his priorities are in life: "One-hundred years from now, nobody will care what kind of job you had, what awards you've won, none of that matters. But they will care about what kind of kids you left behind."
Pamela Gregg still supports Jeff Foxworthy's career
Before officially premiering a new stand-up routine, Jeff Foxworthy will often hit the same small comedy club circuit he navigated before he became famous to test the material. And as he told Atlantic City Weekly in 2015, he can always guarantee at least one laugh every joke thanks to the support of his wife.
Even after decades of marriage, Pamela Gregg still accompanies her funnyman husband to most gigs, and she often proves to be a valuable indicator of a joke's worth. Foxworthy explained, "I can tell when something bombs, because the only sound I can hear in the room is my wife laughing hysterically and beating the table, because she loves the ones that bomb."
The "American Baking Competition" host, who places such jokes in a box named Certificate of Appearance, also told Closer Weekly that he'll test jokes out at his home first, too, "I run everything by my poor wife, stepping out of the shower going, 'Is this funny?' She's got great instincts. She'll go 'No,' or 'That's funny, but you need to add this.' When my kids were little, they didn't know I was talking about them. They got to be teenagers and were like, 'Dad, quit talking about me!'"
In 2020, Jeff Foxworthy and Pamela Gregg downsized
After 20 years in the dream home they designed with architect Budd Holden, Jeff Foxworthy and Pamela Gregg decided that the space they'd created was just too big for only two people. Daughters Jordan and Juliane had both flown the nest and so the happily-married couple put their beloved property on the market for a cool $2.99 million.
It's unlikely they were short of interest judging by the spiel from Keller Williams Realty Consultants (via People): "If you're looking for a wonderful place to raise your family, you might want to buy this home. Every inch of this magnificent home is built to perfection and detailed with hidden gems throughout." And sure enough, within six months, the property sold.
Foxworthy, who that year became the host of collectibles show "What's It Worth," and his other half also decided to flog many of their valuables at the same time. According to TMZ, this included various memorabilia items, two white-tailed deer mounts and a Renaissance billiards table. The pair now live in Brookhaven, which is just over 10 miles north of Atlanta.
Jeff Foxworthy and Pamela Gregg like to pay it forward
Jeff Foxworthy and Pamela Gregg may be rolling the dough, but having been unable to hire an official photographer for their own wedding in 1985, the couple can still remember the working-class life. And now that they're in a comfortable financial position, they're keen to give a little back.
During the promotional trail for "The American Bible Challenge," Foxworthy was asked by CBN what he would spend the prize money on if he was a contestant rather than the host. The funnyman replied, "I would probably give it to the Mission. My wife and I have been chairman of the fundraiser for the New Children's Hospital for 15 years or 20 years, I don't know how long, and the thing that always appealed to me about that was kind of like St. Jude. They don't turn anybody away based on ability to pay. You show up at the door and you go, 'My kid's got cancer and I've got a dollar.' If they've got a bed, they give it to you."
Foxworthy and Gregg have supported a number of nonprofit organizations throughout his career, and their altruism has not gone unnoticed. In 2018, the Rotary Club of Buckhead presented the comic with the Rev. Robert Ross Johnson Humanitarian Award to recognize his work with the Atlanta Union Mission. Per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Foxworthy encouraged the attendees to seek out ways to really help people who are experiencing homelessness. "You are people of influence," he said. "Use it."