Early Life and Religious Upbringing

Jeff Foxworthy was born to Jimmy Abstance Foxworthy, an IBM executive, and Carole Linda (Camp) Foxworthy. He is of English descent and was raised in a traditional Southern Baptist household. As a child, Jeff demonstrated strong religious conviction; at the age of seven, he expressed his desire to accept Jesus Christ. Although his mother encouraged him to wait until he was more mature, he was insistent, and later that evening he went to church accompanied by his mother to affirm his faith.

Education and Time at IBM

Foxworthy attended Hapeville High School and later enrolled at Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly known as Georgia Tech. Despite not graduating, he began working at IBM in the field of mainframe computer maintenance—following in his father's professional footsteps. Known for his light-hearted demeanor and sense of humor, his colleagues encouraged him to enter the Great Southeastern Laugh-Off held at Atlanta’s Punchline Comedy Club in 1984. Foxworthy won the competition, marking the dramatic start of his career in comedy.

Comedy Career and Breakthrough

Jeff Foxworthy officially launched his comedy career in 1984. He gained early acclaim on the stand-up circuit, which soon led to television appearances and increased national exposure. In 1990, he won the American Comedy Award for Best Stand-Up Comic. His 1993 comedy album, You Might Be a Redneck If…, became a cultural phenomenon, selling over three million copies.

In 1995, he released the album Games Rednecks Play, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Comedy Album in 1996. That same year, he starred in his own sitcom, The Jeff Foxworthy Show. Though short-lived, the show helped solidify his status as a household name in comedy.