Comedian Kristin Key is building a Lesbian Army with a legion of new fans worldwide.
She was born in Aurora, Missouri and was the daughter of a Church of Christ preacher. No music was allowed in the strict household while growing up, which led her to eventually rebel by learning musical instruments. She now uses the acoustic guitar to enhance her punchlines and perform parodies throughout her act. Her comedy set in 2025 also includes a question-and-answer portion from attendees and some crowdfunding for good causes.
She moved to California, where she now resides, after competing on NBC’s Last Comic Standing and has produced six comedy albums. Additional television credits include Bring the Funny and Comics Unleashed.
Key talked backstage at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., before her set on the Camp Kristin Tour.
Windy City Times: Start with your personal story about coming out of the closet. You came out and went back in?
Kristin Key: [she/her] Yes. I came out when I was in my teens and it didn’t go well, as you can imagine, being a preacher’s daughter from Texas. My parents and I decided I shouldn’t live at home anymore, so I dropped out of high school. All that stuff just was really hard, so I thought if I took it back and just transformed back into a straight lady, wearing a necklace and eyeliner, no one would ever know. So I did that for a long time and tried dating boys. It just felt gay for both of us!
I didn’t know how to be a girlfriend to a boy. After that, I developed a wonderful drinking problem and started dating girls on the down low. I eventually came out of the closet again when I was 35. Life got so much better and I got sober. Out of the closet, I started getting involved with the queer community and leaned into it hard. Now that I’ve survived and thrived, I want to be as visible as possible to people who grew up like me. That’s where this tour came from and I wanted to make up for all of those years where I couldn’t say the word lesbian by saying it as often as possible!
WCT: Your Camp Kristin Tour has been selling out and added a second show tonight in Chicago. How does that validation feel?
KK: I’m so happy queer-identifying people found the show and it’s become a safe place to watch comedy, whether the person is part of the LGBTQ+ community or not. I have been told by audience members that they don’t usually go out to comedy clubs because they are sometimes targeted as the punchline.
When a queer person comes to my show, the least interesting thing about them is their identity in a room full of other people who are the same. Someone at my show is special and unique, but not because of their queer identity.
Once I found a wife and can live happily now, my goal is to help other people in the community by being visible and raising money for organizations that help queer youth.
WCT: Someone in the lobby asked me if you are single just before I came backstage.
KK: Yes, I have a wife and she is with me on this trip. She isn’t always available to travel, but she was able to come to Chicago. The cat stayed home because Molly is allergic. It would be awful, but the minute she passes away, I am going to adopt two more cats.
WCT: What would their names be?
KK: Life and Insurance!
WCT: What comedians inspired you to become one?
KK: I wasn’t allowed to watch dirty comedy growing up, so I had to watch clean and wholesome comics like Bill Cosby! Because of the standup television show An Evening at the Improv, I was able to watch Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O’Donnell and Paula Poundstone, all of the women who wore shoulder pads and ties. I didn’t put it together, but they were in male drag. As a little gay kid, I guess I picked up on the lesbian vibe. Big shoulders made them seem confident and I loved those wonderful mullets!
WCT: Talk about performing with Brandi Carlile.
KK: I was closing my set at Girls Just Wanna Weekend in Mexico and we sang Indigo Girls’s “Closer to Fine” together. She is fun and easy to play around with as a comic for banter. For some reason, I mentioned vaginal estrogen onstage. She went with it and had a great sense of humor.
WCT: How is your Kristen Knows Blank podcast going?
KK: It’s doing great and I have had it for several years, although I took a small hiatus last year to do the Lesbian Army Tour. It’s coming back in March and we have new episodes already recorded that I am ready to release.
We’ve got some fun guests planned for this year and I’m about to record an episode with Camryn Manheim. We’re trying to get Lisa Loeb this year, but my wife is in a one-sided feud with her that Lisa doesn’t know about!
On the podcast, I sit down with someone in the biz who is attached to the queer community in some way. They can identify as queer or be an ally.
WCT: I like it when you play Mad Labs with the guests.
KK: I write all the scenarios myself. I started writing them during the pandemic. After I interview the guest, I play Mad Libs with them and I learn something about them every time.
WCT: What are your plans for the rest of the Camp Kristin tour and beyond?
KK: I am traveling all over the United States and then to Canada and Europe on this tour.
I have my first hour-long comedy special coming out that’s based on last year’s Lesbian Army Tour. It’s been shot and edited. We are selling it soon.
WCT: What would you like to say to your younger self about coming out?
KK: It doesn’t matter what other people’s opinions are, and you can still be wonderful despite what people’s beliefs are. You are enough.
Follow kristinkey.com for the Camp Kristin Tour, fun merchandise and Patreon opportunities. Subscribe to thedentheatre.com for a variety of upcoming shows.