Josh Johnson

Josh Johnson (born March 16, 1990) is an American stand-up comedian and writer. He is best known for his work on The Daily Show, having first joined as a staff writer in 2017. Johnson became a correspondent in February 2024, and was later promoted to the weekly rotation of hosts in July 2025. His self-released frequent YouTube sets have aired over the 2020s.

He was also previously a writer and performer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and toured with Trevor Noah on his Loud & Clear tour for several years. In 2018, he was named New York's Funniest Stand Up at the New York Comedy Festival. He has released three hour-long comedy specials, # (Hashtag) (2021), Up Here Killing Myself (2023), and Symphony (2026). Along with The Daily Show, he is an internationally touring stand-up comedian. Johnson is the host of the 30th Annual Webby Awards.

Early life Johnson is from Alexandria, Louisiana. His mother was a special education teacher before having neurosurgery. After her surgery, she worked as a librarian at the same library Johnson visited after school. His father worked as a teacher. His parents were separated. His father died in 2016 . He studied design and received a degree in lighting design for theater from Centenary College in 2012. where he made his debut as an on-air correspondent in 2024. His first half-hour special was released on Comedy Central in 2017. His comedic story "Catfishing the KKK" has been viewed more than 13 million times on YouTube.

In 2018, he appeared on the Netflix stand-up comedy series The Comedy Lineup. At the New York Comedy Festival that year, he was named New York's Funniest Stand Up. Beginning in 2019, Johnson toured with Trevor Noah on the Loud & Clear tour. It was released in June 2021 on Comedy Central to a positive reception, including being named one of the best comedy specials of 2021 by Vulture. Variety named him one of 10 Comics to Watch. His second special, Up Here Killing Myself, was released in February 2023 on Peacock.

Since 2023, Johnson has uploaded routines from his open mics and performances at the Comedy Cellar and his running tours every week on his personal YouTube channel. Critics have praised Johnson's videos for their remarkable frequency, thematic consistency, and depth. Starting July 22, 2025, Johnson was added to The Daily Show'''s rotation of hosts, alongside Jon Stewart, Desi Lydic, Michael Kosta, Ronny Chieng, and Jordan Klepper.

In January 2025, Johnson embarked on a North American stand-up comedy show tour, Flowers'', starting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The sold-out tour

He was announced as the host for the 30th Annual Webby Awards, which aired in May 2026.

Discography + Year Name Notes 2018 I Like You 2021 Elusive #Hashtag2022Channel Black Some of the Best of the Josh Johnson Show, Vol. 1 2023 Biden! Karen! OnlyFans! A Josh Johnson Basement Tape Up Here Killing Myself Some of the Best of the Josh Johnson Show, Vol. 2 Leaps 2024 Josh Johnson: Live from Before 2026 Josh Johnson: Symphony HBO special

Filmography + Year Title Role Notes 2017 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon N/A Writer, 51 episodes 2017–present The Daily Show Himself, various Writer (2017–2024); correspondent (2023–2025); co-host (2026–present) 2018 Genies Josh 3 episodes, also writer 2023–2025 Kiff Harry Buns (voice) 8 episodes, 1 special 2027 CoComelon: The Movie TBA (voice)