FARGO — Fargo native John Datoy Narum has taken the stage in more ways than one — first as a world yo-yo champion at just 11 years old and now as a stand-up comedian making audiences laugh with his clean, conversational style.

Datoy, who now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, has gained the attention of one of America’s biggest names in comedy: Nate Bargatze. The renowned comedian, known for his Netflix and Amazon specials and for hosting the 2024 Emmy Awards, recently released Datoy’s first mini special through “ Nateland Presents: The Showcase ” on YouTube.

“Honestly, seeing my special premiere, it just brought me back to that first open mic I ever did,” John Datoy said. “You have dreams, but just knowing that you actually took chances and they paid off — it’s been almost unbelievable to

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