TULLAHOMA, Tenn. — When Henry Cho tells his first joke, most folks suffer a moment of cognitive dissonance. Raised in Knoxville, Cho’s full-bloodied Korean and speaks with decided southern drawl. It’s not something he shies away from.

“Just let it soak in a second or two,” he joked with a Tonight Show with Jay Leno audience in 2018. “Cause there’s something wrong with this picture, ain’t there? That Asian guy’s up there talking like a hillbilly.”

He’s earned a reputation as a “clean” comedian, whose performances are appropriate for all ages. He often uses childhood experiences as an Asian American in the South to create comedic moments. He left Tennessee in 1986 to pursue a career in Hollywood, but says his plan was always to return home. He owns a home on Tims Ford Lake and returns to this area frequently.

He’s one of the few stand up comics to perform as a regular at the Grand Ole Opry. He’s also worked with Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Willie Nelson, Carrie Underwood, Reba and many others.

On Friday, January 13 at 7 p.m., he will return to the South Jackson Civic Center for his annual show. Tickets are $25 in advance and $27 at the door. The show usually sells out , so secure your tickets by calling the SJCC box office at 931-455-5321. •

{The Lynchburg Times is an independently-owned, community newspaper located in Lynchburg, Tennessee the home of The Jack Daniel Distillery. We focus on public service, non-partisan, rural journalism. We cover the Metro Moore County government, local tourism, Moore County schools, high school sports, Motlow State Community College, as well as whiskey industry news and regional and state stories that affect our readers.}