Nashville-based comedian Danae Hays will perform at the Bijou Theatre on Saturday, April 27. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m.

Hays grew up in small-town Morris, Alabama, where her entire family lived and all went to the same school. After high school, Hays attended the University of Alabama and played softball for all four years of her undergraduate career.

Before she became a softball player later in her life, Hays said she always had a comedian mindset as a little girl. For example, some of her favorite things to do was make prank calls and sketches. She would perform these creative sketches for her parents.

“I have always been drawn to making people laugh,” Hays said. “It gives me the most fulfillment compared to anything I’ve done — even softball.”

One of the turning points in Hays’ career occurred when COVID-19 hit. This was around the time when TikTok became increasingly popular and saw a lot of activity. Like when she was a child, Hays began posting her prank calls on TikTok to add a comedic spin during the pandemic. She eventually gained about 250,000 followers from this, and it ultimately transformed her TikTok page into comedy.

Hays has come a long way from recording on TikTok to performing on stage. One of her most successful shows was at the Birmingham Stardome venue, which was formed into a comedic stage after being a venue for drama and plays.

Every Wednesday, Hays uploads a video on her podcast “The Refined and Rowdy Show.” This is where Hays and her wife, Mandie Kaii, talk about various topics that give a snapshot of the banter between the two. The podcast got its name because it highlights Hays being the “rowdy” part of the show and Kaii being the “refined” part.

“It’s fun to see the two of us dissect a topic with two very different outlooks and somehow find a way to find common ground,” Hays said.

One aspect that Hays brings to her shows and podcasts is her natural Southern style. She incorporates her Southern roots in her work as much as possible. What also makes her unique is that she prevails in a male-dominated profession.

“How boring would it be to be another male doing comedy?” Hays said. “I love being a woman navigating this world and just being myself while doing it.”

Andrew Graham is the head of the digital corporate advisory and partnerships at Creative Artists Agency. He grew up in Pittsburgh and got experience working with digital media in California. Graham eventually moved to the Creative Artists Agency’s office in Nashville, where he works with Hays.

“In working with Danae, I co-pilot alongside amazing colleagues in comedy and music, Danae’s commercial career,” Graham said. “This includes bringing the right agents and executives into her world to drive business outcomes across music, touring, social and endorsements.”

Among all of Hays’ fans, one of her biggest supporters is Graham. Graham spoke about Hays’ success and why he loves working with her.

“In a world increasingly focused on views/likes/comments and data — which, by the way, she has in spades — Danae also has that pixie dust, that X-factor, that drives us all to want to work in entertainment,” Graham said. 

Tickets for Hays’ performance at the Bijou Theatre can be purchased through Icon Concerts.