By Valerie Milano
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 10/27/25 – As The Hollywood Times proudly continues its partnership with the Sunset Music and Comedy Festival, Southern comedy icon Vickie Shaw gears up to take the stage at the Palm Springs Cultural Center for “The Revival: Soul & Power”, a night celebrating resilience, rhythm, and raw humor. In a recent Zoom interview with THT’s Valerie Milano, Shaw opened up about her life, her art, and the power of laughter as a force for connection and change.
Born and raised in Texas, Vickie Shaw’s journey is one steeped in Southern warmth, grit, and grace. With her mother’s Tennessee roots and her own adoption shaping her worldview, Shaw has built a career grounded in authenticity. “I can’t not be who I am,” she laughed during the interview. “Even when my family didn’t understand me, comedy helped me find my place, and my peace.”
That honesty, delivered with Shaw’s trademark drawl and sharp comedic timing, has made her a beloved figure in lesbian and queer women’s comedy. Known for her fearless humor and relatable storytelling, she’s spent decades breaking barriers and cracking stereotypes wide open.
Shaw reflected on her early years when lesbian comedy was still carving out space in a male-dominated field. “It used to be all about being butch or poking fun at the world,” she said. “But I never wanted to change my material just to fit what someone thought I should say.”
Instead, she leaned into her truth — a lesbian mother navigating life’s absurdity with humor and heart. Her jokes about raising kids, dealing with love, and surviving small-town gossip didn’t just get laughs; they normalized lesbian identity for audiences who rarely saw themselves reflected onstage.
“The power,” Shaw said, “is when everyone in the room is completely silent, listening. When I say I’m a lesbian and they pause, and then laugh with me, that’s real connection.”
Throughout her career, Shaw has viewed comedy not just as entertainment but as activism. “It’s like what George Carlin did, or what those old protest songs did in the ‘60s,” she explained. “You make people laugh, but you also make them think. Comedy is rebellion with a smile.”
Her upcoming Revival performance fits perfectly into the festival’s mission, merging soulful music and comedy that uplifts, empowers, and inspires. With her long-running collaborations on Olivia cruises and her appearances at Women’s Week Provincetown, Shaw continues to use her platform to create space for laughter, love, and liberation.
Audiences can expect Shaw’s set at The Revival: Soul & Power to deliver both punchlines and perspective. “If people walk away feeling lighter, and more themselves, then I’ve done my job,” she said.
Following her Palm Springs performance, Shaw plans to join post-parade celebrations and community events surrounding the festival weekend, which coincide with Pride festivities and The Hollywood Times’ ongoing coverage of women in entertainment.
The Sunset Music and Comedy Festival runs November 7–9, 2025, at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, featuring powerhouse performances by Ann Hampton Callaway, Amythyst Kiah, Jason Stuart, and more.
Tickets & Info: Visit sunsetmusicandcomedyfestival.com for schedules and passes.
Editor’s Note: The Hollywood Times is honored to serve as an official media partner for the Sunset Music and Comedy Festival. Stay tuned for our exclusive Zoom interviews and red-carpet coverage on The Hollywood Times YouTube Channel and Aspiring Magazine.
Click below for our exclusive interview:
