Kountry Wayne is an American stand-up comedian and social media influencer who rose to fame through viral comedy videos on Instagram and Facebook. He currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kountry Wayne’s Early Life and Career
Kountry Wayne, whose real name is Wayne Colley, was born on July 17, 1985 in St. Louis, Missouri. He had a difficult upbringing in the inner city and turned to comedy as an escape. In his teenage years, Wayne started performing stand-up comedy at local bars and clubs in St. Louis.
In the early 2010s, Wayne moved to Atlanta to further pursue his comedy career. He started gaining a following from uploading short funny videos on Instagram under the name “Kountry Wayne”. His videos often highlighted urban culture and poked fun at the differences between country and city life.
Rise to Fame on Social Media
Wayne went viral in 2015 after uploading a video where he joked about the differences between how people in the country vs the city react when it rains. The video amassed millions of views and likes on Facebook and Instagram. More viral videos followed as Wayne expanded into skits and celebrity impersonations.
By 2016, Wayne had gained over 3 million followers on Facebook. His urban conversational style and expressive delivery resonated with fans. Other viral hits included “When you take too long to pick a restaurant” and “When you hit that Kountry Wayne dance”.
As of 2023, Wayne has over 10 million followers across social media platforms. He is one of the most prominent social media comedians today.
Television and Films
Wayne has appeared on MTV’s Wild ‘N Out and BET’s 50 Central. He also played a supporting role in the 2017 comedy film Grow House starring rappers Snoop Dogg and Lil Duval.
In 2018, Wayne released his first stand-up comedy special “Kountry: The Kountry Wayne Story” on the Shenanigans YouTube channel. The special gave fans an intimate look into his life growing up in the Midwest.
Wayne continues to cultivate his acting career. In 2020, he appeared in two episodes of Will Smith’s Snapchat original comedy series Will From Home. He had a cameo in the 2021 dramedy film Really Love starring Kofi Siriboe.
Life in Atlanta
Wayne has lived in Atlanta for over a decade since moving from St. Louis. The city has played a major role in the development of his comedy career.
In interviews, Wayne has stated that he chose Atlanta because of its thriving urban culture and large creative community. As an aspiring comedian, he found lots of opportunities to perform and cultivate his skills.
Atlanta’s rich hip hop scene also influenced Wayne’s style. His videos are filled with references to Atlanta culture – from the clubs, slang, fashion and music. Wayne even created his own “cooking dance” inspired by Atlanta cooking dances like the Whip and Nae Nae.
Wayne currently resides in the Castleberry Hill neighborhood of downtown Atlanta near the city’s famous stomping grounds for rappers and comedians. He continues to be involved in the local comedy scene.
Comedy Style and Influences
Kountry Wayne’s comedy style is conversational, high-energy and full of hilarious impressions. Critics have drawn comparisons to other urban comedians like Kevin Hart, Lil Rel Howery and DC Young Fly.
In interviews, Wayne has cited Eddie Murphy as his biggest influence. He idolized Murphy growing up, watching films like Coming to America and Raw repeatedly. Other influences include Martin Lawrence, Bernie Mac and Dave Chappelle.
Like his heroes, Wayne uses storytelling and physical comedy to bring his skits to life. His sketches often feature outrageous characters that let him showcase his gift for accents and impersonations. Wayne has impersonated celebrities like Kevin Hart, Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Harvey and Stephen A. Smith.
Comedy Touring and Merchandise
At the height of his fame, Wayne performed sold-out shows across the country. He embarked on his first major tour Pimpessions in 2017, followed by the Even Mo Funny tour in 2018. In 2020, his Social Distance tour was adapted for drive-in venues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Along with stand-up shows, Wayne makes club appearances and hosts comedy events. He uses his live shows to connect deeper with fans and test out new material.
To spread his unique southern flair, Wayne launched an online store with his own merchandise. Fans can purchase Kountry Wayne apparel including t-shirts, hoodies and accessories.
Personal Life
Wayne has two children – a son named Kameron and a daughter named Kenzie. He keeps his personal life relatively private outside of his comedy persona.
In interviews, Wayne has spoken candidly about his difficult upbringing and time spent living in homeless shelters as a child. He persevered through the struggles with the help of humor.
Giving back to the community is important for Wayne. He has worked with organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs to help motivate and inspire underprivileged youth.
Future Projects
Kountry Wayne continues to entertain fans through comedy videos on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, where he has over 3 million followers.
He hopes to follow the footsteps of comedians like Kevin Hart and transition into larger acting roles. Wayne has expressed dreams of starting in more sitcoms, movies and TV shows in the future.
There is also talk of Wayne getting his own comedy special on Netflix. He has proven his widespread appeal through sold-out tours and viral videos.
As Wayne told XXL Mag in 2018: “I want to take over the world and leave a legacy behind for my kids. I want to get into acting and become a big movie star.” His comedy success on social media platforms seems to just be the beginning of an impressive entertainment career spanning television, film and more.
Conclusion
In summary, Kountry Wayne is an Atlanta-based comedian who rose to fame through viral comedy videos on social media. He has leveraged his online popularity into stand-up tours, TV appearances, merchandise and acting roles. Wayne continues to entertain his millions of followers while pursuing bigger projects to showcase his talents. His unique blend of urban humor and high-energy physical comedy will undoubtedly keep bringing laughs for years to come.