TOP IT OFF INTERVIEW WITH HEATHER LAND

Comedian and Author of

I AIN'T DOIN' IT

DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORD YOU BOUGHT WITH YOUR OWN MONEY, THE FIRST RECORD, CASSETTE, OR CD? DO YOU STILL HAVE IT?

I was in Middle School in the early 90s, and I bought my first cassette tape. Bonnie Raitt's multi-Grammy-winning album, "Nick of Time." I've been hooked on her ever since. I'm not sure if I still have it. I have an old box of cassettes that I'll have to check.

WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO SONGS WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR AND YOU'RE BY YOURSELF? ANY NEW SONGS YOU'RE LOVIN'?

How many do I get? From the top of my head, I'd say Maren Morris's "80s Mercedes, " Foy Vance's, "Upbeat Feelgood, " and Chris Stapleton's "Nashville, Tennessee." Oh, and one of my latest finds, Dixie Chicks "Gaslighter " …OMG!

DO YOU REMEMBER A FIRST FAVORITE FOOD THAT YOU DISCOVERED AS A KID THAT YOUR PARENTS DIDN'T SERVE AT YOUR HOUSE THAT YOU LIKED?

Well, basically all we had was fried food growing up in my house in Milan, Tennessee. So anything that "wasn't fried" was new. Anything that wasn't in casserole form. It was like deconstructed foods, like in the regular form. I'd think, "Why is this chicken breast not mixed with cheese and bread crumbs?" I know "deconstructed" has a new meaning now, but I' m going back to the original definition.

ON THAT NOTE, AS FAR AS FOOD. WHAT'S PERFECT NIGHT FOOD AT HOME WITH YOUR HUSBAND, STEPHEN? WHAT'S YOUR GO-TO FOOD AND DRINK?

I'd say a nice fancy-schmancy charcuterie board and our favorite drink, we call "The 505." Stephen created it for me in our early days together on the road. Gin, cranberry juice, St. Germain, key lime LaCroix, and a splash of lime.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE A TIME THAT YOU FELT WELCOMED UNEXPECTEDLY IN SOMEBODY'S HOME OR SOMEONE THAT MADE YOU FEEL SPECIAL?

Well, I think probably the place that I feel the most welcome is in Stephen's family. They're from India and Malaysia, and I'm a really awkward white girl. And so, coming into their home and being so loved was a beautiful shock. The way they love you, you know, besides hugging on you and all that good stuff is they cook for you. And the greatest form of love is that they don't make you clean the dishes, especially right after you get married like everybody's hosting you and "Oh, no, you just got married. So you get to sit and be waited on. " So I' m like, "Can we get married every year? Like, can we keep this going?" But yeah, I think it's probably his whole family. They act like I got dark skin, but I'm whiter than the driven snow.

THAT'S SO BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE THAT. OKAY. SO LAST QUESTION. WE KNOW YOU'RE A SUCCESSFUL COMEDIAN, BUT WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE AS A YOUNG GIRL?

A musician…..Yeah, I'm still waitin' on that!

Here's what I really wanted to do. I really wanted to marry a preacher and be that “singin' preacher's wife.” The singing part has sort of worked out, but the whole married to a preacher did not work in my favor. I wanted to be a singer. So when I'm doing a show, and I tell my story from the stage, I say, "I used to be a worship leader, but evidently not a very good one because y'all are here cause I do comedy!"

RYMAN AUDITORIUM

PHOTO COURTESY OF HEATHER LAND

For tour dates https://www.heatherlandofficial.com