Kristin Chenoweth is a renowned American actress and singer, recognized for her work in musical theatre, film, and television. She received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 1999 for her portrayal of Sally Brown in the Broadway production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Early Life
Kristin Chenoweth, originally named Kristi Dawn Chenoweth, was born on July 24, 1968, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. At the age of five days, she was adopted by Junie Smith Chenoweth and Jerry Morris Chenoweth, both of whom were employed as chemical engineers.
Kristin has mentioned that she has one-quarter Cherokee heritage. As an adult, she had the opportunity to meet her biological mother, who had recognized a resemblance after seeing Chenoweth on a late-night talk show a decade prior.
From a young age, Kristin displayed a passion for music and performance, often singing gospel songs in local churches.
Education
Kristin Chenoweth completed her secondary education at Broken Arrow High School, where she was actively involved in the theater department.
Following her graduation, she enrolled at Oklahoma City College, a small, private Christian institution. During her time there, she joined the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and took part in beauty pageants, ultimately earning the title of Miss Oklahoma City University.
In 1990, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in musical theatre but chose to stay at the college to pursue a master’s degree.
In 1991, she was the second runner-up for the Miss Oklahoma title, and by 1992, she had earned her master’s degree in opera performance.
Kristin Chenoweth Career
While completing her master’s degree, Kristin Chenoweth performed at The Lyric Theater in Oklahoma City and occasionally traveled to regional theaters for performances. Her early theatrical endeavors included roles in productions such as Promises, Promises and The King and I.
In 1992, she was awarded the title of “Most Promising Up-and-Coming Singer” during the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, which included a full scholarship to the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.
Before her classes commenced, Kristin traveled to New York City to assist a friend with a move and seized the opportunity to audition for a role in the Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of “Animal Crackers.” After securing the role, she opted to decline the scholarship and relocated to New York to pursue a career in musical theater.
In the early 2000s, Kristin Chenoweth began her transition into television and film acting, all the while continuing her work in stage productions.
She captured the attention of mainstream audiences in 2005 with a supporting role in “Bewitched,” featuring alongside Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, and Michael Kaine. For her performance, she received the Outstanding Supporting Actress Performance in a Film award at the 2006 First Americans in the Arts Awards.
That year, she participated in three additional film releases, taking on supporting roles in the comedy-dramas “Running with Scissors” and “Stranger Than Fiction,” as well as the holiday comedy “Deck the Halls.”
In 2008, she featured in a supporting role in “Four Christmases,” sharing the screen with Reese Witherspoon, and the subsequent year, she was seen in the independent drama “Into Temptation.”
From 2004 to 2006, she featured in a recurring capacity on the well-known political drama “The West Wing.” Following that, she took on a key role in the comedy-drama “Pushing Daisies” from 2007 to 2009.
Her work in the latter series garnered her two nominations for the Emmy Awards, and she, together with the cast of “The West Wing,” received two nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Personal Life
Kristin Chenoweth has been in relationships with actors Seth Green and Lane Garrison, as well as writer and producer Aaron Sorkin.
In 2018, she started dating Josh Bryant, a member of the country music band Backroad Anthem, and they tied the knot on September 2, 2023, following an engagement that lasted nearly two years.
Net Worth
Kristin Chenoweth is a renowned American actress and singer, boasting a net worth of $16 million. She is widely recognized for her performances in the television series “Glee” and “Pushing Daisies,” as well as her Tony-nominated role in the Broadway production of “Wicked.”
