Comedian Nikki Glaser, 40, has embraced a quieter existence in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, since relocating from Los Angeles in 2022. This move aligns with a trend among celebrities seeking respite from Hollywood’s intensity post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Filming ‘Good Girl’ at Home

Glaser recently promoted her new comedy special Good Girl, filmed at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis, during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark. Host Mark Consuelos inquired about shooting in her hometown.

‘I live in St. Louis,’ Glaser responded. ‘I moved back to St. Louis after COVID and kind of just got away from it all and stayed there.’

The audience included high school friends, Pilates classmates, her self-tan technician, and even her childhood dentist. ‘Lots of people from high school, people from my Pilates class, my self-tan lady from the strip mall. But it was fun,’ she said. She added jokingly, ‘It’s fine that my childhood dentist knows about my sex life now. I guess that’s appropriate.’

Her parents, EJ and Julie Glaser, attended the taping. The early days of her relocation appeared on the E! series Welcome Home Nikki Glaser?.

Escaping the Status Chase

In a prior interview on St. Louis on the Air, Glaser explained her preference for St. Louis over coastal cities. ‘When I’m on both of the coasts, it’s like constantly comparing yourself, and everyone’s just really chasing that status,’ she stated.

‘Here [in St. Louis], it just feels a bit more relaxed, and I get back to what’s important: having a good time and going out to eat.’ She noted that social media metrics and fame hold less sway locally, helping her recalibrate priorities and focus on family while they remain healthy.

Early Life and Career Roots

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Glaser moved to the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood as a young child with her sister Lauren and parents. Her father, EJ Glaser, recalled her post-college grind in a 2025 FirstAlert4 interview: ‘She worked out of our house while driving all over the Midwest to do comedy. Her work ethic is just amazing. I’m so proud of her.’

Glaser debuted her first stand-up special in 2016, rising to prominence with a reported $10 million net worth. She hosted the Golden Globe Awards in 2025 and 2026 and will return in 2027. Currently, she films The Fifth Wheel, directed by Eva Longoria and starring Kim Kardashian.

Celebrities Fleeing Los Angeles

Glaser joins others departing California amid concerns over taxes, crime, and overcrowding. Comedian Joe Rogan relocated to a lakefront Austin, Texas, mansion in 2020. ‘I want to go somewhere in the center of the country… somewhere you have a little more freedom,’ he said on The Joe Rogan Experience. He cited traffic, economic disparity, and homelessness as factors.

Mark Wahlberg moved his family to Nevada in 2022 for a ‘better life’ and tax benefits, selling his Beverly Hills estate. ‘I would love to see us building studios, creating jobs and just diversifying the economy,’ he told CNBC.

Oscar winner Hilary Swank listed her $10.5 million Pacific Palisades home in 2021 after shifting to Colorado during lockdowns. Actor Josh Brolin bought a $3.5 million Atlanta home in 2020, his wife Kathryn Boyd Brolin’s hometown. ‘We decided to skip out on our beloved Cali and move across the country,’ she said, though they retained a California property.