Aaron Wilburn: Ask 'Why?' for Laughs

By Belinda Elliott
CBN.com Senior Internet Producer

CBN.com - In the midst of troubling times, when it seems like most of the news seen on TV is bad, families can use a good laugh. Comedian Aaron Wilburn is happy to help.

Some may recognize the fun-loving comic from his frequent appearances on the Gaither Homecoming tour and videos. Clips of his comedy routines have also become popular on YouTube where his performance of "If My Nose Is Running Money” has been viewed more than 5 million times.

What people may not know is that Wilburn is also a very talented songwriter who has garnered both Dove Awards and Grammy nominations through the years. In 2005, he was honored by his home state when the Alabama Music Hall of Fame put an exhibit about his life and music on display.

On his latest DVD, Why?, the comedian discusses how observing some of the peculiar behaviors of people often leaves him scratching his head. In his delightful Southern accent he ponders out loud why anyone would want to be at the other end of a motorized tattoo needle, or why some young people opt to wear piercings on their faces or in their belly-buttons.

“I’m not judging, I’m just asking why?” Wilburn tells the audience.

The DVD also includes two songs from the comedian. One is a beloved favorite about acquiring a fur coat for his wife. The other song, “Dietin,” is new and chronicles his struggles of trying to give up junk food for healthier alternatives. There is no doubt that many will relate to his plight of trying to resist the allure of the “Hot Now” sign while driving past a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop.

Between the two songs, Wilburn regales viewers with stories about his wife, his church, his attempts to get fit, and a trip with his kids to Disneyworld, among other topics. Drawing from his Southern roots for most of his jokes, his routine is family-friendly and will appeal to audiences of all ages.

But never far from his mind is the reason he has chosen comedy as his profession. Wilburn tells viewers that he has seen firsthand the role that humor can play in people’s lives. After one performance, he says, a couple who had lost their 26-year-old son in a car accident thanked him for his comedy routine. In the midst of their grief, they told him, it was the first time that they were able to laugh together.

“I realized then the power of laughter and the healing of laughter,” Wilburn says.

It is what keeps him returning to the stage for performances across the country.

“I love to laugh, but more than that I love what laughter does for the soul, for the spirit, for the heart, and for the face,” he says. “Some folks think they need a face lift; no, they just need a spiritual lift and they would look a lot different.”

With many families facing job losses and financial uncertainty in these tough economic times, a night of good, clean fun is a welcome diversion. Pop some popcorn (or pull out the carrot sticks) and gather around for Why? You won’t be sorry.

Pick up a copy for your family today.

Learn more at www.aaronwilburn.com.

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