Diva Spotlight: Kristin Chenoweth

As I mentioned on a recent post, Kristin Chenoweth is responsible for my undying love of the Broadway show Wicked. Over the years, my love and respect for Chenoweth as an artist has grown just as exponentially as my love of the show. I got to see her live in 2010 on Broadway when she was doing Promises, Promises and it was honestly enough for me to get by the rest of my life knowing I was breathing in the same theatre air that she was. She's an incredible vocalist, a charismatic actress, and what seems to be a truly delightful human being, and I was so happy to be able to visit her music catalog this week for her spotlight.

Here's our traditional crash course about her (all info current as of September 2021):

-53 years old (she's a Leo)

-Born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (a little under 2 hours from Oklahoma City) and received a Bachelor's Degree in Musical Theatre from Oklahoma City University (she's also an alumna of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta)

-Classically trained vocalist

-Has won 7 awards, including one Tony Award and one Primetime Emmy Award

-Received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015

-Has released 7 studio albums (6 regular, 1 Christmas)

Chenoweth has a fairly diverse musical resume on her albums that explore a range of genres and proving she can do more than knock peoples' socks off on a Broadway stage. Let's go ahead and jump in!

Let Yourself Go (2001)

Chenoweth's debut vocal pop/jazz album was released May 29th, 2001 by Sony when she was 32 years old. With a run time of 54:44, it didn't produce any singles but she did get to sing with some pretty awesome people on this record, backed the entire time by Robert Fisher & The Coffee Club Orchestra. Let Yourself Go is a great example of the type of music Chenoweth does best: older classics and show tunes. Her vocals absolutely shine on this record, and you can tell just by listening how much fun she had making it. Here's my Top 3:

Track 5: Hangin' Around With You (from Strike Up the Band, 1930) with Robert Fisher, Jason Alexander, & The Coffee Club Orchestra (written by G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)

I tend to forget that Jason Alexander can sing (and fairly well at that), so this absolutely adorable duet was a really lovely surprise. From the musical written by the Gershwin brothers and Morrie Ryksand, Chenoweth and Alexander bring a super fun energy to the song that never lets up the entire run.

Once, you would hang around me/Hang ‘round me night and day/I thought that love had found me/When we became that way/Now it’s a different story/You’re not a one-girl man/I’ve heard you’re in your glory/Playing the Dapper Dan/You may tell me you’re a saint/But listen to my complaint/What’s the use of hanging around with you, hanging around with you/Hangin around with you, deary, I never know, I never know just where I stand/What’s the use of banging around with you, banging around with you/Banging around with you deary, you’ve gotta give this little girl a bigger hand

Track 6: The Girl in 14-G with Robert Fisher & The Coffee Club Orchestra (written by D. Scanlan, J. Tesori)

I think this ended up being my favorite song on the whole album because it's so much fun and shows off so many different vocal styles, all provided by Chenoweth herself. By the end, she's performing a trio with two other versions of herself in the styles of her classic Broadway, operatic soprano, and low range freestyle jazz.

Just moved in to 14G, so cozy, calm, and peaceful/Heaven for a mouse like me with quiet by the lease-full/Pets are banned, parties, too, and no solicitations/Window seat with garden view, a perfect nook to read a book/I’m lost in my Jane Austen when I hear/Say it isn’t so, not the flat blow/From an opera wanna be in 13G/A matinee of Socantota, Wagner’s Ring and Traviata

Track 14: On a Turquoise Cloud with Robert Fisher & The Coffee Club Orchestra (written by D. Ellington)

This song, notably performed by the incomparable Duke Ellington, really blew me away. The only primarily instrumental piece on the album, Chenoweth's wordless vocals in the background help create a stunning, peaceful atmosphere as you listen to it.

As I Am (2005)

Chenoweth's second Christian album was released April 5th, 2005 by Sony when she was 36 years old. With a run time of 55:03, it also didn't produce any singles but showed off a different side of her musicality. As I Am really showcases Chenoweth's devotion to her faith, something she's never been shy about despite opposition from both sides of her fanbase. Her vocals are just as good on this record as any other, just in a different way. Here's my Top 3:

Track 2: Word of God Speak (written by B. Millard, P. Kipley)

Chenoweth's cover of one of my favorite MercyMe songs is gorgeous, and you can tell as she sings that she truly believes every word. This is one of MercyMe's more under appreciated songs in my opinion, but both the original and this cover are now staples on my personal worship playlist.

I’m finding myself at a loss for words/And the funny thing is, it’s okay/The last thing I need is to be heard/But to hear what You would say/Word of God speak, would You pour down like rain/Washing my eyes to see Your majesty/To be still and know You’re in this place/Please let me stay and rest in Your loneliness, word of God speak

Track 9: The Song Remembers When (written by H. Prestwood)

Originally performed by country legend Trisha Yearwood, this Chenoweth cover hit me right in the feels because this is one of my mom's all-time favorite songs. She does it really beautifully and packs a ton of emotion into those few minutes.

I was standing at the counter, I was waiting for the change/When I heard that old familiar music start/It was like a lighted match had been tossed into my soul/It was like a dam had broken in my heart/After taking every detour, getting lost and losing track/So that even if I wanted, I could not find my way back/After driving out the memory of the way things might have been/After I’d forgotten all about us, the song remembers when

Track 13: Taylor, the Latte Boy (written by M. Heisler, Z. Goldrich)

I fully expected this song to be Cheese Central when I saw the name of it, but I ended up really enjoying it. Originally performed by Susan Egan, it's just a sweet story about an experience with a Starbucks barista that effects the narrator to their soul and is really nothing more than that - nice and simple.

There’s a boy who works at Starbucks who is very inspirational/He is very inspirational because of many things/I come in at 8:11 and he smiles and says, "How are you"/When he smiles and says, "How are you," I could swear my heart grows wings/So today at 8:11, I decided I should meet him/I decided I should meet him in a proper, formal way/So today at 8:11 when he smiled and said, "How are you"/I said, "Fine, and my name’s Kristin," and he softly answered, "Hey"/And I said, "My name is Kristin and thank you for the extra foam"/And he said his name was Taylor, which provides the inspiration for this poem/Taylor the Latte Boy/Bring me java, bring me joy/Oh, Taylor the Latte Boy/I love him, I love him, I love him

Some Lessons Learned (2011)

Chenoweth's third country pop album was released September 13th, 2011 by Sony when she was 43 years old. With a run time of 45:11, it produced two singles: I Want Somebody (Bitch About) (6/6/11) and Lessons Learned (9/7/11). Some Lessons Learned lets Chenoweth show off her country music loving roots and while I could see it being a culture shock to some, it does work out pretty well. This is a fun, high energy record that's definitely worth a listen. Here's my Top 3:

Track 4: What Would Dolly Do (written by B. Ezrin, D. Child, K. Chenoweth, S. McAnally)

Chenoweth has always been very vocal about Dolly Parton being one of her heroes, so this song shouldn't be a surprise to anybody. This song is fun, upbeat, and great to get yourself hyped up if you're feeling low.

Caught you in the saddle with some Jolene, looks like she lost a battle with Maybelline/I got an open mind, but 3-ways ain’t my scene/I may not be from Tennessee, but you know I got a lot of Dolly in me/And there’s a Smokey Mountain law that says thou shalt not cheat/So take your truck and shove it, I know how much you love it/And it’s a good thing, ‘cause that’s where you’re moving to/I’m gonna pull that wig down off the shelf, go high heels up with someone else/‘Cause I ask myself, "What would Dolly do"/W-W-Double-D, W-W-Double-D/W-W-Double-D

Track 8: Wreck You (written by D. Warren)

I ended up really loving this power ballad love song more than I expected to. It's a great reminder about really falling in love with someone special and all the things that you want at the beginning of those relationships.

I wanna take up all your time and every thought that’s on your mind/Tonight when you sleep, I wanna know you’re dreaming only of me/I want my kiss on your lips and touch on your fingertips/And I gotta know they’ll be no other lover/I want you to think of me and nothing else but me/I wanna be the one who wrecks you and messes you up/I wanna leave you feeling breathless, needing only my touch/I wanna make you weak and bring you to your knees/I wanna wreck you

Track 9: I Didn't (written by S. Krenn, S. Williams, S. Austin, W. Rambeaux)

This song is a clapback anthem if I've ever heard one. We ALL know at least one person like the guy she's singing about, don't we?

They say opposites attract, well I can see it now as I look back/If I wanted this, he wanted that, we’d bark and hiss like dogs and cats/Well, the thing that drove me up a tree is the way he loved to disagree/Each time we had a difference of opinion/Well he liked the covers pulled down, but I didn’t/He thought I should gain a few pounds and I didn’t/What finally tore our love apart was a difference of religion/He thought he was God, but I didn’t

Coming Home (2014)

Chenoweth's fourth country/pop/vocal pop/disco album was released November 18th, 2014 by Concord Records when she was 46 years old. With a run time of 71:15, it was recorded live as a PBS special in her hometown of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Coming Home is a beautiful experience to listen to from start to finish so that you can hear all her dialogue to the audience, many of whom she'd grown up with and around. This had to have been the experience of a lifetime for her, which adds to our listening experience as fans. Here's my Top 3:

Track 2: Maybe This Time (Live) (written by F. Ebb, J. Kander)

I'd heard Chenoweth perform this song on Glee as a duet with Lea Michele years before this, so I already knew she'd knock it out of the park. As a soloist on this classic from the show Cabaret, she does NOT disappoint.

Maybe this time, I’ll be lucky/Maybe this time, he’ll stay/Maybe this time, for the first time/Love won’t hurry away/He will hold me fast/I’ll be home at last/Not a loser anymore/Like the last time and the time before

Track 9: Popular (Live) (written by S. Schwartz)

You thought the original version of Popular had a lot of words? This performance sees Chenoweth sing in not only English, but also Japanese, German, and Chinese, switching between them seamlessly?

Don’t be offended by my frank analysis/Think of it as personality dialysis/Now that I’ve chosen to become a pal/A sister and advisor, there’s nobody wiser, not when it comes to/Popular, I know about popular/And with an assist from me to be who you’ll be/Instead of dreary who you were, well, are/There’s nothing that can stop you from becoming populer…lar

Track 11: Little Sparrow (Live) (written by D. Parton)

This Dolly Parton cover is beautiful and even haunting at times. Starting off almost solely a cappella and growing more and more as the song goes on, I think it's probably a cover that makes Dolly proud.

Little sparrow, little sparrow/Precious, fragile little thing/Little sparrow, little sparrow/Flies so high and feels no pain/All you maidens heed my warning/Never trust the hearts of men/They will crush you like a sparrow/Leaving you to never mend/They will vow to always love you/Swear no love but yours will do/Then they’ll leave you for another/Break your little heart in two

The Art of Elegance (2016)

Chenoweth's fifth vocal pop/jazz album was released September 23rd, 2016 by Concord Records when she was 48 years old. With a run time of 51:00, it produced two singles: The Very Thought of You (8/19/16) and Smile (9/9/16). The Art of Elegance is probably my favorite album of hers to date, full of classic love songs in the vocal jazz style that she's so talented at. It's a soft, relaxing, easy listen that I recommend to everyone. Here's my Top 3:

Track 7: They Can't Take That Away from Me (written by G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)

Originally performed by Fred Astaire in the 1937 film Shall We Dance, Chenoweth really nails this cover on the head. It's definitely a dance song that you can't help but sway to while listening.

The way you wear your hat/The way you sip your tea/The memory of all that/No, no, they can’t take that way from me/The way your smile just beams/The way you sing off key/The way you haunt my dreams/No, no, they can’t take that away from me/We may never, never meet again/On the bumpy road to love/But I’ll always, always keep/The memory of

Track 11: I'm a Fool to Want You (written by F. Sinatra, J. Wolf, J. Herron)

Originally performed by the one and only Frank Sinatra, this is another beautifully haunting cover from Chenoweth. She does a lot of really lovely things dynamically with her voice here that make the song her own.

I’m a fool to want you/I’m a fool to want you/To want a love that can’t be true/A love that’s there for others, too/I’m a fool to hold you/Such a fool to hold you/To seek a kiss not mine alone/To share a kiss the devil has known/Time and time again, I said I’d leave you/Time and time again, I went away/And then would come the time when I would need you/And once again, these words I’d have to say

Track 13: You're My Saving Grace... (written by B. Coffing, S. Tyrell, S. Tyrell)

This album ender is a beautiful love song that really stuck with me after it was over. The heartfelt lyrics and the simple melody all tie together so nicely.

I’ve been a witness to a raging fire/That’s taking my soul to the wild/Been burning, then pushed right to the wall/Now I’ve come to believe you can’t lose them all/Your love is my saving grace/My one salvation in this crazy place/Heaven’s in your arms where I know I’m safe/And your love is my saving grace

For the Girls (2019)

Chenoweth's most recent vocal pop/jazz/country album was released September 27th, 2019 by Concord Records when she was 51 years old. With a run time of 42:00, it produced one single: You Don't Own Me (9/27/19). For the Girls is such a fun, celebratory, girl-power album with a lot of talent provided by Chenoweth and her guests, including the likes of Ariana Grande, Reba McEntire, Jennifer Hudson, and Dolly Parton. It's soft and sweet and fiery and passionate all at the same time and is really just a delight to listen to. Here's my Top 3:

Track 4: I Will Always Love You with Dolly Parton (written by D. Parton)

If you're a musician, you've definitely imagined what it would be like to perform with one of your heroes. Chenoweth got to live that dream here, and it's absolutely amazing.

If I should stay/I would only be in your way/So I’l go, but I know/I’ll think of you every step of the way/And I/I will always love you/I, I will always love you

Track 7: Crazy (written by W. Nelson)

This country classic written by Willie Nelson and popularized by the late great Patsy Cline is always incredible, and this cover is no exception. Chenoweth singing country music is always going to be a good time.

Crazy, I’m crazy for feeling so lonely/I’m crazy, crazy for feeling so blue/I knew you’d love me as long as you wanted/And then someday, you’d leave me for somebody new/Worry, why do I let myself worry/Wondering what in the world did I do/Crazy for thinking that my love could hold you/I’m crazy for trying and crazy for crying and I’m crazy for loving you

Track 12: Desperado (written by D. Henley, G. Frey)

An undeniable staple in The Eagles' repertoire, this version gets me misty eyed every time I hear it. Again, Chenoweth stays true to the original source while making the song hers.

Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses/You’ve been out riding fences for so long now/You're a hard one, but I know you got your reasons/These things that are pleasing you can hurt you somehow/Don’t you draw the Queen of Diamonds, boy, she’ll beat you if she’s able/You know the Queen of Hearts is your best bet/Now it seems to me, some fine things have been laid upon your table/But you only want the ones that you can’t get

Kristin Chenoweth is a musical icon not only on the Broadway scene, but all around. Give her music a shot if you haven't and I promise you'll have a great time. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!