“What is the leader of popcorn called?”/“The kernel.”

A popcorn riddle is:
   
Q: What is the leader of popcorn called?
A: The kernel (colonel).
 
The joke was posted on the newsgroup churchlady on March 7, 2011.
   
 
Google Groups: churchlady
Jest For Kids 03-07-11
Raw Oyster2
3/7/11
(...)
Who is the leader of popcorn?
The kernel.
 
Twitter
becca ☠️
@becwthagoodhair
WAIT. WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE LEADER OF POPCORN?
THE KERNEL
3:11 PM - 23 Apr 2013
 
Twitter
BadJokes
@NastiaJokes
Who is the leader of popcorn?
...
The kernel
8:52 PM - 24 Feb 2014
 
Reddit—3amjokes
What is the leader of popcorn called? self.3amjokes
Submitted May 24, 2018 by OmegaTimmy
The colonel.
COMMENTS
fangirlsqueee
I went for momcorn.
 
Twitter
3AM
@3AM_Jokes
What is the leader of popcorn called?... The colonel.
11:41 PM - 23 May 2018 (Posted after the above.—ed.)

Food/Drink