Award-winning stand-up comic, podcast host, and author John Crist has made a name for himself through his impressive career in comedy. After going viral and earning hundreds of millions of views for his hilarious sketches relating to everyday life, Crist has continued to grow his platform through national tours, stand-up specials, and a steady stream of character-driven content. Not only did a viral moment lead him to his big break, but it also led him to his fiancée, Lydia Fielder. Born and raised in Northwest Arkansas, Lydia is a University of Arkansas graduate and Emmy-nominated anchor and reporter for WSMV4, Nashville’s NBC affiliate. While the pair have had many parallels throughout their lives, the couple met in a way that perfectly blended their two worlds — weather reporting and comedy.
“I thought it'd be a funny sketch to do a fake news story about a news anchor melting down because it's so cold outside… it [was] fake, but it looked like it was the real news,” Crist explains. “Then somebody sent me [Lydia’s] Instagram video of her literally doing the same thing that I was making a joke of.“
John sent a message to Lydia to poke fun at the coincidence of the video—which still remains his most viral to date—and the two immediately hit it off. Several months later, John was on tour and set to perform at a venue in Lydia’s town. He invited her to the show, and the rest was history! After months of dating long-distance, Lydia relocated to Nashville when her contract ended at her Arkansas news station, and she landed a new role as an anchor and reporter at WSMV.
After almost four years of dating, Crist popped the question, and the pair got engaged at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville this past August. The day was filled with surprises from start to finish! Met with an intimate, candle-lit entrance and string quartet, Lydia walked through the doors to what she thought was a comedy award show—little did she know, John had made up the whole thing to get her all dressed up with no suspicion.
“He called every single one of my friends and family members personally and invited them,” Lydia shares. “He proposed, and there was a quartet from the Nashville Symphony playing super special songs to us. [Once we left,] he [took] me down to the river saying we were going to take pictures… I turned around, and all of our friends and family were on the Pontoon Saloon boat, all decorated with white tablecloths and cake.”
The pair are enjoying wedding planning and are looking forward to celebrating with an Arkansas ceremony. While her knowledge of comedy has certainly strengthened since meeting John, Lydia wasn’t always an expert in the field. When it comes to supporting each other and their careers, they value the importance of encouraging one another and continuing to show up as true partners in every season.
“I get excited about comedy stuff, and I try to follow along because it's showing love and investing in what your partner absolutely loves… [it’s] a form of loving them,” Lydia explains.
When it comes to shaping his comedic voice, John shares that Lydia has inspired him in many ways—from the nuances of their relationship to the small, everyday moments they navigate together, their partnership has naturally become a defining muse for his work.
“You always tell people that your comedy grows with the stage of life that you're in... I think both of us have made an agreement that we're going to be a part of the other person's career,” John shares. “There's nothing that I say that's really safe [with] John pulling out his Notes app,” Lydia adds. “I know when I see him get on the note, he's writing down a premise or an idea.”
One thing that sets John apart is his willingness to dip into territory others might shy away from. He shares that the subjects people hesitate to talk about are often the ones that most deserve a little light—and sometimes a good laugh.
“I think [it’s true that] laughter is a good medicine… humor has a way of breaking down the walls between people,” John explains. “If you look at any good speech, [it’ll start] with a joke in a way to break open the walls a little bit. If you ever meet me, I'm going to be joking—it's a way to connect.“
In addition to his latest comedy special, John Crist: Emotional Support, being released in early 2026, he hit another major career milestone by appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He will also be kicking off the John Crist Live Tour on January 23rd. In addition, Lydia recently received a nomination for the Nashville Midsouth Emmys Rising Star Award, an honor for emerging professionals in the television and media industry, as well as her first Emmy nomination for her work on an Opry 100 red carpet special. She anchors weekdays on WSMV starting at 3 p.m.
For more information on John and Lydia, follow them on socials.
@johnbcrist
@lyfeoflyd
“I think [it’s true that] laughter is a good medicine… humor has a way of breaking down the walls between people,” John explains.
“I get excited about comedy stuff, and I try to follow along because it's showing love and investing in what your partner absolutely loves… [it’s] a form of loving them,” Lydia explains.