Stand-up comedy star Nate Bargatze isn’t shy about sharing what keeps him grounded—his Christian faith.

In a recent interview with Esquire, the Tennessee native and comedy powerhouse opened up about how his faith continues to shape not only his personal life but also his career on stage. “It’s a good thing to be around. I think it makes you feel grounded,” Bargatze said. He added that when he’s not on the road performing, he makes church a priority: “I go [to church] as much as I can.”

Bargatze, whose tour topped Billboard’s list of the Top 10 Highest-Grossing Comedy Tours of 2024, has long been known for his clean, family-friendly comedy. Unlike other comics who take aim at religion, he often weaves in his Christian upbringing with humor that never tears it down.

In his Amazon Prime special Hello, World, Bargatze joked, “I had ’80s and ’90s Christian parents. Well, that’s the most Christian you can get of the Christian. I think Jesus had more fun than I did.”

The joke reflects a truth about his life. Bargatze has shared before that he wasn’t even allowed to watch The Simpsons growing up. “I grew up that way,” he told Fox News Digital in 2023. “I come from a Christian family and Southern Christian, so I wasn’t allowed to watch anything, which I talk about in the special. And so growing up and only watching clean comedians, it was just how I was going to be.”

For Bargatze, his parents’ influence still looms large—even in his 40s. “I still feel I will get in trouble,” he admitted when asked about avoiding foul language in his sets. “I’ll get in trouble, and I will disappoint them. I don’t want to disappoint my parents.”

He continued, “I just can’t imagine cursing in front of your parents. Still, even now, I’m 43 years old, and I still just couldn’t do that. So that’s how I write. I think I write my comedy to—a lot of it is to make my parents laugh. I want them to be proud and be like, ‘Oh, come watch my son do comedy,’ and not be offended by it.”

That heart to honor his family resonates with many of his fans, particularly those who share his Christian values. His approach proves that comedy can be hilarious without being harsh or offensive.

Bargatze also revealed to Esquire that he’s been sober since 2019, a choice that has helped him focus on the next chapter of his career. “I did not have a control on it… I would go too hard with it. But I knew, if I want to go where I want to go, this is in the way,” he said.

That decision, like his faith, shows how intentional he is about the kind of life he wants to live.

In an entertainment world often filled with edgy material and boundary-pushing humor, Bargatze stands out as a reminder that clean comedy can still pack out arenas and make audiences roar with laughter. More importantly, his faith provides him with direction and stability.

Whether on stage, in interviews, or in his personal life, Bargatze continues to cite the values he learned growing up in a Christian home. “It’s a good thing to be around,” he said of his faith. And for him, that’s no joke.