Good News: Comic Chonda Pierce reunites with high school drama teacher at movie premiere

Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read
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A version of this story first appeared in the weekly emailed newsletter The Good News with Brad Schmitt. You can sign up for that newsletter at tennessean.com/goodnews.

Christian comedian Chonda Pierce — who grew up in (and still lives in) Ashland City — got choked up several times during a cast/crew screening of her limited run movie, "Roll With It," Tuesday night. The movie (which has hilarious cameos by Christian music star Michael W. Smith and former "The View" personality Elizabeth Hasselbeck) was a labor of love, made just before the pandemic.

Chonda finally got to watch it on a big screen Tuesday, in a theater filled with work colleagues, relatives and many of her long-time neighbors in Cheatham County, where much of the movie was shot. (And the establishing shots of the county were breathtaking, I must say.)

Christian comedian Chonda Pierce, right, with Joyce Mayo, her former drama teacher at Cheatham County High School, at the premiere of Pierce's dramedy movie, "Roll With It," at the Regal Green Hills theaters in Nashville May 9, 2023
Christian comedian Chonda Pierce, right, with Joyce Mayo, her former drama teacher at Cheatham County High School, at the premiere of Pierce's dramedy movie, "Roll With It," at the Regal Green Hills theaters in Nashville May 9, 2023

Among the Ashland City residents in attendance — Chonda's old drama teacher from Cheatham County High School, one Joyce Mayo, who beamed and teared up as her star student introduced her to the crowd after the movie.

"This woman here always believed in me," Chonda said. "Look! We did it!"

Afterward, Chonda said that reunion brought her great joy.

"I wanted her to feel she had done a really good thing over 40 years ago when she lit that spark in my heart for acting," Chonda told me.

I also caught up with Ms. Mayo, who taught for 35 years, after the screening to grill her about Chonda.

"From the time I met her, she was a light!" Ms. Mayo gushed. "Chonda was very special. She's among the top 5 of all of my students."

Christian comedian Chonda Pierce, right, kisses Joyce Mayo, her former drama teacher at Cheatham County High School, at the premiere of Pierce's dramedy movie, "Roll With It," at the Regal Green Hills theaters in Nashville May 9, 2023
Christian comedian Chonda Pierce, right, kisses Joyce Mayo, her former drama teacher at Cheatham County High School, at the premiere of Pierce's dramedy movie, "Roll With It," at the Regal Green Hills theaters in Nashville May 9, 2023

Gotta wonder who the other four are, right? 🤔

Anyway, of course I had to get Ms. Mayo's opinion of the movie.

"I loved the views of the town," she said.

Well, OK, but, uh, you're a teacher — What letter grade would you give the movie?

Ms. Mayo pursed her lips and stood silently for several seconds before saying, "I'm not gonna do that." 😂

Have some good news to share? Find Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or 615-259-8384 or on Twitter @bradschmitt.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Good news: Comic Chonda Pierce reunites with high school drama teacher