Jeff Foxworthy, the comedian known for his “You might be a redneck if…” jokes, was born Jeffrey Marshall Foxworthy on September 6, 1958, in Atlanta, Georgia. While he spent his early years in the Atlanta suburbs, his family eventually settled in the small town of Hapeville. Despite his father’s career as an executive at IBM, Foxworthy’s upbringing was filled with the down-home Southern charm that would later fuel his comedy.
Foxworthy has spoken about his mischievous nature and frequent visits to the emergency room due to his aggressive football-playing style. He was academically capable, however, and pursued computer technology studies at Georgia Tech before ultimately following his father’s footsteps and working at IBM for a short period. It was during this time that he discovered his passion for stand-up comedy, taking the plunge into a new career path that would propel him to national fame.