Johnson began performing stand-up in 2006. She described her comedy as "autobiographical" and frequently pulls from events in her own life to discuss topics like relationships, family, and therapy. She has appeared on
Crashing,
Pause with Sam Jay,
Search Party, That year, she also released her debut comedy album
YellJoy on
Juneteenth. The album, produced by Blonde Medicine, is a compilation of sets she performed at
The Comedy Cellar and The Village Underground over a few years. Laurie Fanelli of
Rebellious Magazine reviewed
Yell Joy positively: "Each track further demonstrates Johnson’s unique talent for converting what would, for most of us, be aggravating scenarios into comedy gold." She released
Love Joy, her first stand-up special in November 2021 on
Peacock, with
Jimmy Fallon and
Seth Meyers as executive producers. In 2025, she appeared on
Celebrity Family Feud. Johnson is an
abortion rights advocate. == Personal life ==