Golden Globes Host: 10 Surprising Facts About Nikki Glaser 

After comedian Jo Koy previously bombed the 2024 Golden Globes with his cringe-worthy jokes and failed performance, it was rather gutsy of the award show to levy the responsibility on yet another comic in 2025. Yes, popular comedian Nikki Glaser hosted this year’s Golden Globes.

Renowned for her stand-up specials—Perfect (2016), Bangin’ (2019), and Roast of Tom Brady (2024), Nikki Glaser has taken the long road to the Golden Globes, as she delivered snippets of the material prepared for the event at more than 75 comedy clubs. And they all worked when she took the stage as the first solo female host in Golden Globes’ history. But before looking at those jokes, let’s see these five little facts about Nikki Glaser.

1. Nikki Glaser started her comedy career at 18

Ohio native, born on June 1, 1984, Nikki Glaser, whose talents span across different platforms as an actress, podcaster, and radio and television host, is primarily known for being a stand-up comedian in the entertainment industry. Beginning her comedy career at the age of 18, Glaser worked her way up to performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan, and two seasons of Last Comic Standing.

Meanwhile, as per CBS News, despite having a successful and satisfying career spanning decades, Glaser has opened up about her struggles with self-medicating, eating disorders, and alcoholism. Further, addressing her battle with anxiety, the 40-year-old had even expressed her nervousness surrounding hosting the Golden Globes 2025. 

2. Nikki Glaser’s relationship status 

As Nikki Glaser started making headlines for hosting the award show, fans started getting curious about her personal life, particularly about her dating history. Well, as per Cincinnati.com, the comedian has reportedly been dating producer Chris Convy on and off for years. 

Having first met on her own MTV show Nikki & Sara Live in 2013, where Chris Convy served as a producer, the couple soon became a thing. But despite sparking romance, the duo actually began dating after Glaser got sober following her struggle with alcohol use. 

3. Nikki Glaser has been a part of the film and television industry 

While people are currently focused on Glaser’s Golden Globes 2025 hosting, the 40-year-old initially began her career in the mainstream entertainment industry as an uncredited writer for the 2013 TV Special, Women Who Kill. Thereafter, she went on to serve as a writer for Funny as Hell (2013). 

Soon, after gaining recognition in the industry, Glaser wrote and starred in the MTV show Nikki & Sara Live, followed by Nikki Glaser: Perfect in 2016 and hosting Comedy Central’s Not Safe with Nikki Glaser, a talk show focused on sexual health. Thereafter, transitioning into full-time comedy, the actress launched her standup specials with Netflix—The Standups, The Degenerates, and more. 

In 2022 she also hosted reality shows like Welcome Home Nikki Glaser, and reality TV dating shows including Blind Date, FBoy Island, and its spinoff, Lovers and Liars. As per IMDb, Glaser also had acting roles in the Amy Schumer comedy flicks Trainwreck and I Feel Pretty. 

4. Nikki Glaser is a major Swiftie 

Now, while Nikki Glaser’s comedy career and her Hollywood performances are enough to make people fall in love with her, here’s also an inside detail about the actress. According to her Instagram post, the 40-year-old is a diehard Swiftie. Now, although there’s a controversy surrounding this fact, Glaser has openly admitted to being “obnoxiously obsessed” with Taylor Swift and her music. 

According to reports from Town&Country, Glaser was once featured in Taylor Swift’s 2020 documentary Taylor Swift: Miss Americana, in a montage of people who criticized the pop star’s appearance. Like many other comedians, Glaser mocked Swift during several events, which apparently forced Swift to escape from the spotlight for a year. 

However, later on, taking to her Instagram, Glaser apologized for her mockery and explained how ironic it was, considering how big of a fan she is of Taylor Swift. Posting an image wearing merchandise of the singer, the 40-year-old cleared the air of misconception. 

5. Nikki Glaser is popularly known for roasting 

While Glaser has undoubtedly created an envious filmography filled with popular shows and comedy films, the 40-year-old is actually known among fans for her incredible roasting skills. Being a veteran of the comedy industry, the actress has helmed numerous specials including Bangin’ and the recent Emmy-nominated hit Someday You’ll Die.

But among all, Nikki Glaser seemingly captured people’s attention in the 2024 Netflix special The Roast of Tom Brady, in which she and other comedians like Kevin Hart, Sam Jay, and Tony Hinchcliffe took aim at the former NFL star. Thereafter, the 40-year-old told Deadline how the special propelled her popularity to such an extent that she got hired to host the 2025 Golden Globes. 

The Tom Brady roast just moved me up in the world of like, oh, this girl’s capable of handling things… It really got me on some important people’s radars. 

And I also wanted it. I don’t even think that I had to tell them I wanted it, but it is funny to me that they ask you, do you want to host the Golden Globes? I’m like, who turns this down? 

So it seems that while Glaser has done some pretty hilarious films and TV shows, it was the 2024 Netflix special and her impeccable roasting skill that took her to places. 

6. Nikki Glaser had never imagined hosting an award show

Further during the interview with Deadline, Nikki Glaser addressed the opportunity of hosting the Golden Globes 2025. While claiming that The Roast of Tom Brady earned her the million dollar scope, Glaser also admitted how she had never imagined in her wildest dream that she would ever host such an auspicious award show. 

It was an event in my family to watch the Oscars. We printed out ballots, guessed who was going to win each category. It was a whole event. And never in my wildest dreams did I think that I was going to host one of these shows.

Growing up watching award shows like the Oscars and Golden Globes, Glaser noted how it was their family game of guessing the winners of each category. But, while playing a game with her family, she had never expected that she would go on to be a part of one such award show. 

7. Nikki Glaser is the first solo female host of the award show 

While claiming that she had never even imagined being a comedian while growing up, due to lack of female inspiration, Nikki Glaser became one such icon to influence a new generation of women. Well, to be specific, she not only became an influence as a female comedian but also as the first solo female host of the award show. 

Making history at the Golden Globes 2025, Today reported how Glaser stood where last year’s host Jo Koy fumbled after his monologue bombed badly—and became the first woman to host the award show, without an accompanied male or female host. Although previously, Amy Pohler, Tina Fey, and Sandra Oh had served as emcees, they were usually accompanied by other performers. 

8. Nikki Glaser rehearsed her opening monologue 93 times 

Now, hosting the Golden Globes alone must have taken some courage for Glaser, as it is undoubtedly a tough job to keep celebrity A-listers, and millions of fans watching at home, equally entertained. But for that, she came prepared with her nine-minute opening monologue, which she rehearsed around 93 times. 

Airing live on January 5, on CBS and Paramount+, the comedian took a swing at the most talked-about pop culture moments, politics, current affairs, and more. Meanwhile, although she’s known for roasting Tom Brady, at the event, she took a dig at Kate Winslet, Benny Blanco, Harrison Ford, and Timothée Chalamet.

Opening her speech by referring to the 82nd Golden Globes as “Ozempic’s biggest night,” Glaser went as far as roasting Hollywood producers surrounding their presumed habit of seeking s*xual favors. She then went on to call Winslet, Cate Blanchett, and Colin Farrell “absolute Hollywood legends,” and took a dig at Chalamet’s sleek mustache. 

You know, I’m in a room full of producers at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, and this time, all of my clothes are on, so it was worth it.

[Turning towards Timothée Chalamet] Can I just say you have the most gorgeous eyelashes on your upper lip? I think this is just such a good look. 

I do want to remind you, if you do lose tonight, please just keep in mind that the point of making art is not to win an award. The point of making art is the start of tequila brand so popular that you never have to make art again.

Further, ending the monologue by poking fun at the likes of Ryan Reynolds, and Dwayne Johnson for rarely releasing films, Glaser mocked their plan of starting a tequila brand and investing in the beverage industry so that they never have to work again. 

9. Nikki Glaser received hosting advice from a former Golden Globes host

If you’ve watched Glaser’s opening speech or simply got impressed with the above-mentioned gags, then we must say, you’ve former Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais to thank. According to the 40-year-old’s interview with EW, the comedian told the outlet how she reached out to the five-time Globes host for some quick tips and advice. 

His advice was like, ‘You aren’t them. You’re a comedian. They’re A-list movie stars. Remember that. Do what you do. Don’t try to be them. Don’t trick yourself into thinking you are better than you are,’

I liked that, because I always perform best when I shake that delusion off. I’m not a movie star. I just have to be a comedian that night. Then, by the third time I’m hosting, I can have a scorched-earth monologue. 

After Glaser’s participation in the Golden Globes 2025 was revealed in August 2024, the actress had enough time to prepare and seek advice from former hosts. And that’s exactly what she did when he reached out to Ricky Gervais for her big night. According to the comedian, Gervais had advised her to be herself and do what she does best.

Instead of picking up a facade and behaving like a celebrity, Gervais had urged Glaser to be sincere with her comedy and perform like one of the standups. 

10. Nikki Glaser was intimidated by her role at the Golden Globes 

Although Nikki Glaser got genuine advice from Ricky Gervais, the comedian admitted to the Golden Globes official site about her nervousness regarding the job. While she was undoubtedly excited about the opportunity, Glaser also mentioned being anxious about the fact that it’s all gonna be live, without any scope for editing and retakes. 

Hosting the Golden Globes is scary! It’s a well-lit room, which is not conducive to comedy; there are a lot of people I admire, which also is not conducive to comedy.

It’s live, so you can’t do retakes. The level of difficulty is through the roof. And that’s thrilling to me.

But in the end, considering the positive reviews gained by Glaser following her opening monologue, it seems that the star has finally nailed her performance, despite her worries. 

The Golden Globes can be streamed live on CBS and Paramount+.