Mary Beth Barone Is Gunning for a Grammy With ‘Galaxy Brain’ on Vinyl

The comedian brings her distinctive vocal fry to an audio-only experience, releasing her most recent Netflix special as an album on Nov. 23

Comedian Mary Beth Barone is on the campaign trail. Well, when we talk on the phone she’s in the middle of a blowout. But then it’s right back to the campaign trail. 

Following the July 28 premiere of her Netflix special Galaxy Brain, the standup, actress, and writer is putting her hat in the ring for Best Comedy Album at the 2027 Grammys. And as a gift to fans, the album version of Galaxy Brain will be available to purchase on vinyl on Nov. 23. 

“When the tides rise, humanity is completely wiped out, and whatever organism comes to take our place, I want them to be able to look back on what we left behind,” Barone tells Rolling Stone. “I’m hopeful that some of these vinyls will stand the test of time.” 

Barone is best known in the comedy space for her acerbic wit and dark reflections on modern dating, sex, and feminism, complete with her signature droll tone and low voice. “I’m really glad that I’ve empowered people with vocal fry to keep up the good work,” she says. “I actually reached out to a vocal coach to try to get rid of mine, and she never responded. That felt like the universe’s blessing.” She stars in the hit Amazon Prime/A24 college comedy Overcompensating and co-hosts the weekly comedy podcast Ride with her Overcompensating castmate and fellow comedian Benito Skinner. 

The nine-track Galaxy Brain album features the full audio captured during the live New York City taping of her Netflix special Galaxy Brain, where Barone tackles everything from rape culture and the scourge of male comedians to her rescue chihuahua Pink and a grassroots plan to get women to change America’s electoral outcomes with their dating-app matches. “My work will always be about being a woman navigating modern society, which is of course a very colorful experience,” Barone says. “With the special, I wanted to have material that approaches these more serious issues in a way that’s so dumb that it actually becomes smart.”

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Comedy albums aren’t as common as they used to be in an industry dominated by viral TikTok crowdwork and a never-ending parade of streaming-only specials. But Barone says she’s being open about her Grammy campaign in order to bring awareness to what she calls a “huge imbalance” in the category’s winner’s circle. Only four women have won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album since 1970. (“Which means Dave Chappelle has won more comedy Grammys than women have,” she joked on a recent appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers.)

“It’s time to broaden the category a bit. Women are not recognized as much in the comedy space,” Barone tells Rolling Stone. “No one campaigns in this category because for comedians, caring about things isn’t cool. It would be an honor to be nominated, but this [campaign] is really about starting a conversation.” 

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As for the vinyl, Barone’s got plenty of suggestions of where people could play it. “At your situationship’s apartment, at your parents’ house. Maybe at your wedding if you get a DJ that has vinyl; they could sample some of the punchlines,” she says. “Wherever people need to laugh, wherever they want to feel joy, it’s appropriate for all.”