Nate Bargatze Donates $1 Million, Prepares to Host Emmys

Comedian Nate Bargatze announced a $1 million donation to his high school alma mater gymnasium in Nashville and revealed he will host the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards next Sunday on CBS. In a feature on CBS News’s Sunday Morning airing today, Bargatze discussed his roots, career milestones and his “clean comic” mission, underscoring his impact on both his community and the entertainment industry.

Bargatze detailed how Donelson Christian Academy, once the site of his own basketball cuts, now boasts the Nate Bargatze Gymnasium funded by his contribution. He reflected on his father’s influence-first as his coach and later a professional magician-which shaped Bargatze’s deadpan, family-friendly style.

He recounted moving back to Nashville in 2014 to provide normalcy for his daughter and admitted he kept the decision secret to avoid perceptions of “quitting.” Since then, he has released five hour-long specials, authored a New York Times bestseller and sold over a million tickets last year.

Bargatze, currently the highest-grossing stand-up in the U.S., also previewed his next ventures: starring in the spring release The Breadwinner, co-written by Bargatze, and hosting the Emmys. “I love show business,” he said, emphasizing his curiosity to “feel the chaos” of live televised events.

He attributed his success to staying true to his “Good Clean Funny” ethos, aiming to broaden comedy’s audience. His company, Nateland, produces family-friendly content with plans for theme-park-style experiences in Nashville. With one tour left before focusing on film and studio projects, Bargatze remains focused on “operating in this chaos” of an ever-expanding career.