We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shawn Cornelius a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Shawn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

My college experience

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Shawn Cornelius and I got into the business really young without even knowing I was in it. I stated playing with instruments in about 3rd or 4th grade in the school choir.
I’d play around with the guitar and bongos but ended up on the tambourine or sticks.
Then let’s jump to college where I started playing piano, drums, singing in the gospel choir and acting.
After college I decided to go into comedy which I’ve been in for 30yrs now.
I provide laughter, good feelings and positive energy that myself and world needs.
What sets me a part from others is who I am and how I live my life which is exhibited onstage.
I want people to understand a little about me and if I can help them understand their life a little bit cool.
I have created music, books, shirts, buttons, online services and inspirational pieces for people to share and have of mine.
I want people to get life a little bit more and if I can help then that’s a good thing.
I’m most proud of my theatrical accomplishments and life movements where I can help others as I help myself.
I’ve done acting, comedy, written 2 books, learned music and instruments, wrote, produced, directed and srarred in my own movie and performed all over the world.

Have you ever had to pivot?

College was a time of pivoting and moving different ways! Learning new things about life and myself was sometimes hard but it shaped me and gave me the confidence to do many of the things I do today!
I was supposed to go into the upstate police force and was headed to basic training one day when my professor HB Caple called and spoke to my mom and got me back to school and away from the police force.
That was a day that made a difference in my life and changed the trajectory of my world.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In February of 2021 I had an Ischemic Stroke and that shook me totally. The 5 days I spent in the hospital changed me forever and showed me a new perspective on my life.
The years following were hard ones and I still deal with things today that make me have to be strong and courageous.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shawncorneliusentertainment.com
• Facebook: Shawn Cornelius
• Linkedin: Shawn Cornelius
• Youtube: Shawn Cornelius Entertainer
• Email: [email protected] BarnesandNoble.com For Books Expressions Of Love and Romance My Stroke Story