From Rodney Dangerfield to Andrew “Dice” Clay to George Carlin and everyone in between, I’ve met a ton of comedians in my time. They all have their own “New York moments.” But occasionally, I meet someone whose story isn’t just entertaining, but also inspires. Kelly Kellz is one of those people. The moment I sat down with the Atlanta-based comedian, I knew we were in for laugh-laden roller coaster ride of memories.
Kelly Kellz’ time in New York wasn’t a visitor. She wasn’t just here to do a show or two. She lived New York. She breathed it. Our fair city transformed the Milwaukee native into this wildly popular comic we see today. When I asked her about how she got started in the city, she told me, “I hit the ground running. I was literally performing one to five times a day—small bars, open mics, wherever I could get stage time. Then came the big clubs, like Salsa Con Fuego.”
She took in every part of the city with wide-eyed wonder and wide-open arms. “At first though I did the tourist thing,” she said with a laugh. “Statue of Liberty? Check. Junior’s Cheesecake? Check—and yes, I had seconds. Sal’s corned beef? Changed my life.”
But as we all know, the true New York experience comes with unexpected lessons. One of Kelly’s first accommodations was through a sorority sister who offered her a place to stay. “She swore it would save me money on hotels,” Kelly recalled. “What she didn’t mention? She lived in Far Rockaway. By the time I got into the city every day, I felt like I’d flown in from another state.” Still, she doesn’t regret it. “It added to the story. And that’s what this city does—it gives you stories you’ll be telling for the rest of your life.”
Eventually, she made her way to Mount Vernon. “Technically not one of the five boroughs,” she admitted, “but baby, we were close to the 5 train, and that’s what really matters.” It was there, on the streets and sidewalks of New York’s northern border, that she fell in love with one of the city’s greatest culinary traditions: the food truck.
“I had never eaten off a food truck before,” she said. “But New York food trucks? They’re different. They’re spiritual. The halal food especially? Life-changing. I still dream about it.
I was eager to learn what her big “a-ha” moment was. “It was the night that I was booked at Caroline’s on Broadway,” she said as if she were talking about the Holy Grail in a Catholic church.
For comics, Caroline’s was more than a venue. It was a rite of passage. And Kelly didn’t just perform there—she hosted a sold-out show with none other than the legendary Dick Gregory. “Yes, that Dick Gregory,” she laughed, though there was a reverence in her voice when she said his name. “Sitting with him backstage, hearing his stories, soaking in his presence—it was life-changing. He spoke with so much purpose. That night, I realized I wasn’t just working a job. I was answering a calling.”
That moment alone could define a New York story. But with Kelly, it was only the beginning.
As Kelly shared these stories with me, I couldn’t help but notice how she spoke about New York. Not with nostalgia, but with gratitude. This wasn’t just a pit stop in her career. It was a proving ground. A place that demanded everything from her and gave her more than she could’ve imagined in return.
“New York wasn’t just a city to me,” she said, leaning in. “It taught me how to push past my limits. I found out who I was supposed to be on those stages. I found my voice. And I found the courage to use it.”
New York doesn’t just build careers—it builds people. And in the case of Kelly Kellz, it built a powerhouse. A woman who knows exactly who she is; not just funny—but fearless. And that’s what makes this city magical. It doesn’t just change your address. It changes your life.