Hey, Jesus, It’s Me

I Have Questions, Comments, and Concerns

By: Ellen Skrmetti

Narrated by: Ellen Skrmetti

Instagram star and comedian Ellen Skrmetti shares stories behind her wildly popular “Hey Jesus, It’s Me” sketches of a middle-aged, southern-woman's opinions on mamas, menopause, and menus—and on giving the Lord a bit of advice about those unspoken prayer requests.

As a young girl, Ellen Skrmetti loved performing. She starred in plays, sang in the church choir, and even competed in the Miss Mississippi pageant. But despite this she was gripped by severe stage fright and made a deal with God: If you help me get through this, I will never, ever get onstage again. After successfully hitting the high note in “Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys and Dolls, she packed up her drama clothes for good—or so she thought.

When the pandemic hit, Ellen longed to bring a little joy to the world. She thought about all of times she’d asked Jesus to walk with her through pain and heartache—and how often He’d laughed with or comforted her, even during her blazing hot flashes. So she decided to share that message with others, in 30-second videos on Instagram that quickly went viral.

Holding a remote control in her hand, Ellen "calls" Jesus with comments and questions, including asking Him not to make her an advance maternal age mama (again) and if He could bless the nourishment of her food to someone else’s body. She also asks for advice when her best friend’s ex-husband’s new wife shows up in the next pew, or what nursing home plans to make when she's eight years past her first geriatric pregnancy.

From a pageant queen with stage fright, to viral videos, to her growing popularity as a stand-up comedian, Ellen’s humor is rooted in southern charm and culture. Her relatable stories in Hey Jesus, It’s Me will bring levity to our lives, or at least some validation that we’re not the only ones asking if we can ghost our relatives in heaven.

Encouraging back stories

I love Ellen's IG videos. She's so funny, and at the same time, so warm, personable, and encouraging. It was great to hear more of her back stories in her own voice. I hope I can see her live in L.A. some day!

Jesus

Loved, made me miss my Mama! Sorry but this post wants 15 words minimum - so take care.

Southern Cooking, Churches, and Culture

The two kinds of people who will love this book are those from the South and those that are fascinated by the weirdness of Southern Culture.
So, yeah, you

Southern Comedy

She nailed all the southern lady traditions and rituals! Great account of growing up in the 70s and 80s. Love her memories.

Thank you for making me laugh!

Ellen,
I praise God for the gift of humor He has blessed you with. I literally feel like you are in my head thoughts. You have “southern women” completely correct, and I say that with pride(mostly). Best of all, you use your talent to bring honor to Christ and your language and stories are clean and appropriate. Carry on!
-Reagan Cannon, SC