Comedian and Jim Carrey look-alike Heather Shaw brings tour to Lexington

Stand-up comedian Heather Shaw, known as the “lesbian Jim Carrey” among her social media following, is bringing her tour to Comedy Off Broadway in August.

Shaw started her career during the Covid-19 pandemic performing at open mic nights at biker bars and coffee shops in Orlando, Florida, convincing people she was the long-lost, illegitimate daughter of Carrey.

While Shaw is not actually related to Carrey, the resemblance drew attention online, earning her the nickname the “lesbian Jim Carrey.”

“It really helps get some eyeballs on me, so I’ll always be grateful for that,” Shaw said.

Shaw now has 2.8 million followers on TikTok and released her first comedy special, “Alright, See Ya!” in May. As part of her tour, Shaw will perform in both Louisville and Lexington in the coming months.

“I’m so happy that I don’t have to keep doing open mics,” Shaw said. “I love an open mic, but it’s a mental hospital.”

Shaw grew up in Rochester, New York, but now lives in Kentucky. The comedian met her wife, Lilly Jean Coiner, while Coiner was a law student at the University of Kentucky. The couple married on New Year’s Eve 2025 in Louisville, and now live there.

“I do love Kentucky,” Shaw said. “It’s where my wife is from. I like to make fun of it, but there is a deep love for Kentucky there.”

Some topical jokes about Kentucky and the process of getting married here can be expected in the upcoming performances, Shaw said. The horse industry will also likely come into the limelight and see some jabs.

“I am always opening the show and talking about the city I’m in because the things I’ve observed while being there — I always have questions,” Shaw said.

The Kentucky shows will also take on a more personal tone, Shaw said, with a focus on autobiographical storytelling. On top of the tribulations of married life, Shaw plans to discuss her sobriety and veganism in a comedic sense.

The Lexington shows will take place:

• Thursday, August 13, at 7 p.m.
• Friday, August 14, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
• Saturday, August 15, at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Comedy Off Broadway website and the performances will be for those 18 and older.

Shaw’s tour will begin in Louisville on June 10, with a show at Planet of the Tapes at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on the venue’s website. She will return to Louisville for a show on Oct. 14 at the Louisville Comedy Club at 7 p.m.