Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
General Christian
Religious Music and Entertainment
Kristin Chenoweth on Gospel Project: ‘It was a God Thing’

Kristin Chenoweth on Gospel Project: ‘It was a God Thing’

Last updated on: November 18, 2024 at 8:47 pm by DeWayne Hamby

0 Comments

Kristin Chenoweth on Gospel Project: ‘It was a God Thing’ 2024-11-18T20:47:25-04:00 DeWayne Hamby

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

As the movie version of “Wicked” nears release later this week, the original Glinda Kristin Chenoweth is making the rounds, remembering her time in the musical. Oddly enough, I only discovered the acting/musical superstar Kristin Chenoweth after I was pitched interview back in February 2005. She was releasing a gospel album, “As I Am.” The publicist told me she’d become famous for a role in “Wicked,” a musical about the Wicked Witch and there was some question about whether or not faith journalists would be interested. At that time, I’d never heard of the musical, either. But I knew plenty of friends who loved her in “The West Wing.”

Kristin Chenoweth on the red carpet at Celebrity Fight Night XXIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona by Gage Skidmore.

She was a total sweetheart when we spoke, often referring to me as “hon.” I loved her down-home attitude and friendliness and quickly discovered who she was, renting “The Music Man,” watching Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (one character was modeled after her), and seeing “R.V.” and “Bewitched.” Since then, she’s become more and more popular and this interview has continued to be one of my favorites. In 2012, my wife and I attended her concert in Marietta, Georgia, and out of all her songs, she brought entire house down with a rousing version of Sandi Patty’s “Upon This Rock.” (see the video below).

So I’ve been told you’ve been sick. Are you getting better?

I don’t know what’s going on around “The West Wing” cast. Everybody on the set is sick. I don’t get to rest. On Wednesday I was feeling so poor, but I worked about 17 hours that day. Today, I’m about half a day in.

I’m very lucky in that I get to do a lot of stuff. My album is a priority, “West Wing” is a priority, I’ve just done a couple movies and I’m getting ready to do a couple more. Whatever is important that day is what I focus on. I just have to constantly be adaptable. Two weeks ago, I was singing at Carnegie Hall. You just have to switch modes.

How do you manage it all?

My manager helps me out a lot with my schedule. Coming from Broadway, it’s not for wimps, I’m pretty hard on myself and I keep myself on schedule. I have an assistant who helps. I pray a lot. I do a lot of praying that I’m not missing something.

Are you still doing musicals?

I left “Wicked” in July. It was a great experience. I loved it. There are a couple of things in development. I have ample opportunity. I will always go back to Broadway.

I just finished “Bewitched” and “Pink Panther.” They were amazing experiences. I got to play opposite Steve Martin and Nicole Kidman. It doesn’t get better than that. As an actor or singer, you want to keep it changing and not be pigeon-holed. Both parts are very different and it’s different from West Wing. That’s rewarding as an artist.

I think Sally Field has had a good career. I think she’s been smart in what she’s chosen to do. I really respect Patricia Heaton, just an example of someone who’s worked really hard and hit it at the right time. Julie Andrews, she does it all. She’s a singer. She’s done Broadway. She’s my favorite performer. I do really enjoy her music.

What are your highlights from “As I Am”?

Growing up in Oklahoma, country music was an important part of my life. It wasn’t til college and my voice teacher opened up my voice and help me train it. For me, “It Will Be Me” is a song that, even though Faith Hill did it, it’s something that I hope I can be for my friends and family. It has a country flair, and that’s how I grew up singing. Definitely “The Song Remembers When.” Of course, Sandy Patti was an influence on my life. It shows the more operatic, gospel-y type. It’s fun, because (the album) shows a variety of what I can do. I just got lucky because I got an Amy Grant song on there. I grew up singing. I remember my aunt singing “Poor Wayfaring Stranger.” “Abide In Me” and “Borrowed Angels” are new. Those are songs that touched me when I first heard them. The rest are songs that have been in my past.

My first album was definitely Broadway and this album is totally different for most of my fans. I wanted to do it after 9/11 because I wanted to have a spiritual record out there. Integrity asked if I wanted to do this, and I said heck yes, I wanted to do it two years ago. This is more a blessing for me than anyone. I grew up wanting to be a Christian singer. My path ended up changing but this is still who I am.

I was in New York when (September 11) happened. I saw first hand how it affected me, and even people who weren’t believers. I felt at that point, people wanted hope. They wanted something to grab onto, they wanted something to believe. That’s what struck me. I want to do this. Sony Classical, this wouldn’t normally be their thing. I’m lucky because I have people who believe in me. When Integrity came on board, it just was a God thing. Now is the right time for this to happen.

And you’re appearing at Women of Faith?

I’m really excited about that because it’s something that I’ve always heard about. It was great because when I talked to ladies on the phone, I told them “I have a lot of Jewish friends, I have a lot of gay friends, I have a lot of friends who don’t believe in my life. But I certainly would like to do this.” I just wanted to go to the Women of Faith, to go and be blessed myself. I have a certain fan base, but this has also given me an opportunity but this is giving me a new audience. This is something that’s like a lifelong dream for me. It’s kind of going to feel like a homecoming. Now I do concert work. I’ll be doing LA opera, Paris opera, I’ll be doing the met. This is yet another aspect of my life.

Would you do another gospel album?

I’d love to do another project like this. I have a bunch of songs that I wrote when I was little. I’d like to take those out and polish them up and do some original stuff. Certainly I’d like to see how this goes over. It does matter but it doesn’t matter. It’s out of my hands. I know it’s what God wants me to do.

What’s next?

There’s an animated movie for Disney and that’s huge for me. I’m going to get to sing in that. I recently got a movie with Emma Thompson and Annette Benning. Then I have concerts. Then I go on tour with Domingo. I really wanted to stay away from the classical sound.

The GRAMMYS are coming up. Have you been?

I have. Joshua Bell, my ex-boyfriend was nominated. I love it, because there’s so many singers, spiritual and gospel and Christian singers. These are amazing voices. I was singing at the White House. Yolanda Adams was there. She was unbelievable.

As we ended the interview, we spoke about equity and non-equity traveling Broadway shows, her hometown of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and even the Christian singer, Carman, who filmed a movie there. She said she’d like to see it, gave me her agent’s address and I sent her the movie. She also mentioned she’d be coming soon to Atlanta and asked what spots she needed to see.

View Kristin’s dynamic version of “Upon This Rock” below.

General Christian

Previous Post

November 15, 2024

Review: 'Red One,' an Adrenaline-Fueled Christmas Adventure

Next Post

November 20, 2024 Brandon Lake's 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' Makes an Impact

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Trying to find tickets but there are none."

raphael

“Beyond Belief”: Petra’s 80s Rock Hits ..."

"This is a well - written and insightful article. The points you covered are very ..."

Jobs

New Angel Studios Good Samaritan Film ..."

"Why are so many people trying to normalize this vile behavior. He was a racist, ..."

CarletteHarris0731

Wrestling Champ Hulk Hogan Brought His ..."

"He was a stone cold racist"

Jon Altman

Wrestling Champ Hulk Hogan Brought His ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Comics Movies Music Plays and Musicals Podcasts Television Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 September 2015 July 2015 March 2015 November 2014 September 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 May 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 February 2012 December 2011 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 March 2011 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 April 2006 February 2006 December 2005 October 2005 September 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 February 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Ezekiel cook his food over as a sign of coming judgment?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ashes Stones Cow dung Wood