Biography

Kristin Chenoweth (born July 24, 1968, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma) is an American actress and singer whose career has moved fluidly among Broadway, television, film, animation, and popular music. Trained in opera and musical theater at Oklahoma City University, she first attracted professional attention for her strong soprano voice, comic timing, and ability to combine traditional musical-theater technique with a highly distinctive stage personality.

Chenoweth made her Broadway debut in 1997 in the musical Steel Pier, earning a Theatre World Award. Her breakthrough came in 1999, when she played Sally Brown in the Broadway revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The role, which expanded the character beyond the original stage version, won her the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and established her as one of Broadway's most promising comic performers. She subsequently appeared in the short-lived play Epic Proportions and in major concert and regional productions, including On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and Strike Up the Band.

In 2003, Chenoweth originated the role of Glinda in Wicked, Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's musical adaptation of Gregory Maguire's novel. Her performance helped define the character's blend of superficial charm, comic self-importance, and genuine emotional growth. Chenoweth received a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, while the original cast recording won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. Although she left the Broadway production in 2004 after approximately nine months, Glinda remained the role most closely associated with her stage career.

Chenoweth also developed a substantial television career. She played press secretary Annabeth Schott during the final seasons of The West Wing and starred in the short-lived sitcom Kristin in 2001. Her most acclaimed television role was Olive Snook in the visually inventive series Pushing Daisies (2007-2009). As the lovelorn waitress, Chenoweth combined eccentric comedy with considerable emotional warmth and frequently performed musical numbers written into the series. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2009.

Her television work has included recurring appearances as April Rhodes on Glee, for which she received two Emmy nominations, as well as leading roles in GCB and Trial & Error. She has also appeared in productions such as Hairspray Live!, Schmigadoon!, and the television adaptation of The Music Man. Her film credits include Bewitched, RV, Four Christmases, The Pink Panther, The Peanuts Movie, and Rio, in addition to voice work and family-oriented productions.

Chenoweth returned to Broadway in The Apple Tree in 2006, Promises, Promises in 2010, and On the Twentieth Century in 2015. Her performance as Lily Garland in the latter earned her another Tony nomination and several major theater awards. She later led the 2025 Broadway musical The Queen of Versailles, reuniting with Stephen Schwartz in a role inspired by Jackie Siegel. The production ran at the St. James Theatre from October through December 21, 2025.

As a recording artist, Chenoweth has released albums including Let Yourself Go, As I Am, A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas, Some Lessons Learned, The Art of Elegance, and For the Girls. Her recordings reflect her broad musical range, moving from Broadway standards and jazz to pop, country-influenced material, and holiday music. Across her career, Chenoweth has remained notable for the rare consistency with which she carries her vocal precision, comic energy, and theatrical identity from one medium to another.