Idina was born on Long Island, New York, to a Jewish family. Her mother, Helene, is a therapist, and her father, Stuart Mentzel, worked as a pajama salesman. She was raised in Syosset, New York, with her younger sister Cara, and later changed the spelling of her last name (Mentzel) because of constant mispronunciation.
When Menzel was 15 years old, her parents divorced and she began working as a wedding and bar mitzvah singer. A job she continued throughout her time at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Drama at NYU.
In 1995, Menzel auditioned for Rent, which became her first professional theater job and her Broadway debut. Rent opened off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop on January 26, 1996. The show moved to Broadway's Nederlander Theatre due to its popularity. For her performance as Maureen Johnson in the original cast, Menzel received a Tony nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her final performance in the musical was on July 1, 1997.
Following the success of Rent, Menzel released her first solo album entitled "Still I Can't Be Still" on "Hollywood Records," Menzel also originated the role of Dorothy in Summer of ’42 at Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, starred as Sheila in the New York City Center Encores! production of Hair, and appeared on Broadway as Amneris in Aida. Menzel earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for her performance as Kate in the Manhattan Theatre Club's 2000 off-Broadway production of Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. Her other off-Broadway credits include the pre-Broadway run of Rent and The Vagina Monologues.
In 2003, Menzel starred with actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth on Broadway in Wicked, a musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman loosely based upon the popular 1995 Gregory Maguire novel. Menzel received the 2004 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. On her third-to-last performance of Wicked on January 8, 2005, she fell through a trap door and cracked a lower rib. The injury prevented her from performing in the January 9 show. Menzel did, however, make a special out-of-costume appearance at that performance, performed her final song, and received a 5 minute long standing ovation. Menzel was replaced by Elphaba standby Shoshana Bean.
Following Wicked, Menzel appeared off-Broadway in the Public Theater's production of See What I Wanna See, a Michael John LaChiusa-penned musical whose run ended in December 2005, for which she received Drama Desk Award and Drama League Award nominations. She reprised her Tony Award-winning role as Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked when it opened at London's Apollo Victoria Theater on September 7, 2006. During the run, she joined the ranks of highest paid female performer in the West End at $30,000 per week. Menzel finished her West End run on December 30, 2006. She was succeeded by Elphaba standby Kerry Ellis.
Menzel played the role of Florence in the 21st Anniversary concert of Chess at the Royal Albert Hall, London from May 12–13, 2008, alongside Kerry Ellis, Adam Pascal and Josh Groban.
In 2008, Menzel headlined the Powerhouse Theatre's reading of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's musical Nero from July 1–11. She performed the role of Nero’s mistress Poppea.
Menzel's film roles include appearances in Just a Kiss, Kissing Jessica Stein, Tollbooth, Water, Ask the Dust, Enchanted, and Rent, in which she and five other original cast members reprised their stage roles. As a singer Menzel is known for her wide vocal range, and her use of the 'belt' technique.
Menzel performed at the 1998 Lilith Fair summer concert festival and continues to write and perform original music. She has toured extensively and frequently performs in various venues throughout New York City. She produced and released her debut album, Still I Can’t Be Still, for Hollywood Records in 1998. One single from the album, "Minuet," made the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Tracks chart at #48 in October 1998.
Her second album, Here, was released independently by Zel Records in 2004. Menzel has contributed to soundtracks, including those for the film The Other Sister and the ABC television dramedy Desperate Housewives. In 2007, she appeared on the Beowulf soundtrack singing the end credits song, "A Hero Comes Home." Also in 2007, Menzel's powerful singing voice lead her to be asked to accompany the baritone British X-Factor runner-up Rhydian Roberts on his debut album, duetting on the song "What If."
Her third solo album, I Stand, was released on January 29, 2008. The CD includes many new songs, including the lead single, "Brave," the title track "I Stand," and a song released on EP, "Gorgeous." The album debuted at #58 in the Billboard 200 making it the first solo album by Menzel to make the charts. There are five versions of this album: the original version, the special limited edition, the iTunes version, the Barnes & Noble edition, and the Borders edition.
On April 1, 2008, Menzel kicked off her "I Stand" tour in support of her new album.
On November 11, 2008, Menzel released a new single in conjunction with Major League Baseball. The single is entitled "Hope" and all proceeds go to Stand Up 2 Cancer.
On November 27, 2008, Menzel performed "I Stand" on the M&M Candies float as part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
On December 10, 2009, it was confirmed that Menzel was in negotiations to have a recurring role on Glee. In Spring 2010, Menzel began playing the role of Shelby Corcoran, the coach of the opposing Glee club, Vocal Adrenaline. She was also revealed as Rachel Berry's biological mother.
When asked about 'Defying Gravity' being sung on Glee, Idina was asked about her musical future. She said that the long-rumored movie version of 'Wicked' would probably not be green-lit until there's a dip in its Broadway grosses.
Idina also said that she had met with Andrew Lloyd Webber about taking the role of Betty Schaefer in his much delayed Sunset Boulevard film adaptation. As of February 2010, it is widely believed that Idina is no longer part of Sunset Boulevard as she wanted the role enlarged, to the refusal of Lloyd-Webber.
Menzel married actor Taye Diggs, her co-star from the original Broadway production of Rent, on January 11, 2003 after 7 years of dating. They have a Yorkshire Terrier named Sammy Davis Jr. and two cats named Ella and Coltrane, whom they call their "Jazz Cats" because they were named after famous jazz performers. On December 6, 2004, it was reported by the New York Post that Menzel and Diggs were threatened with harm in a series of letters because of their interracial marriage. Their son, Walker Nathaniel Diggs, was born on September 2, 2009.
Menzel was an Honorary Chair of the Imperial Court of New York's Annual Charity Coronation Ball, Night of A Thousand Gowns on March 21, 2009. Other Honorary Chairs for the evening's charity event included Sir Elton John CBE, Patti LuPone, John Cameron Mitchell, Joan Rivers and Dame Robin Strasser.
I Do
Idina Menzel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you see what I see (Do you see what I see)
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see (Do you see what I see)
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite
Do you hear what I hear (Do you hear what I hear)
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear (Do you hear what I hear)
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
Do you know what I know (Do you know what I know)
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know (I know)
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold (Shivers in the cold)
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Said the king to the people everywhere,
Listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
Listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear
Idina Menzel’s Christmas classic “Do You Hear What I Hear?” tells the story of a series of messengers sharing news of the birth of a child, who they believe will bring peace and hope to the world. The song begins as the night wind whispers to a little lamb, asking if she sees a star dancing in the sky, with a tail as big as a kite. As the lamb looks up, she sees the beauty of the star for herself. She then asks the shepherd boy if he hears what she hears, as she hears a song ringing through the sky.
The shepherd boy hears the song too, and he recognizes that it is a message that must be shared with the world. He tells the mighty king about a Child who is shivering in the cold, and the king decides to spread the message of the Child’s arrival to everyone. The message is one of hope and peace, as the Child will bring “goodness and light” to all who receive him.
Overall, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” is a song about sharing good news and spreading hope. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a reason to believe that things will get better. The messengers in the song are all different, but they are united in their mission to spread the message of the Child’s birth and the hope that he brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Said the night wind to the little lamb, Do you see what I see (Do you see what I see)
The wind asked the lamb if it sees the unusual and beautiful sight in the sky
Way up in the sky, little lamb, Do you see what I see (Do you see what I see)
The wind asked the lamb to look up and see the star in the sky
A star, a star, dancing in the night With a tail as big as a kite With a tail as big as a kite
The star in the sky is shining and moving like it's dancing, with a tail that's very big
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, Do you hear what I hear (Do you hear what I hear)
The lamb asked the shepherd if he hears the sound coming from the sky
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy, Do you hear what I hear (Do you hear what I hear)
There's a song that can be heard in the sky, and the shepherd is asked if he can hear it
A song, a song, high above the trees With a voice as big as the sea With a voice as big as the sea
The song in the sky is powerful and has a voice as big as the sea
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, Do you know what I know (Do you know what I know)
The shepherd is asking the king if he knows about the Child that is cold and needs help
In your palace warm, mighty king, Do you know what I know (I know)
The King is aware of the Child in need of help, even though he's inside his warm palace
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold (Shivers in the cold) Let us bring Him silver and gold Let us bring Him silver and gold
The Child is very cold and needs help. The shepherd and king want to bring him silver and gold
Said the king to the people everywhere, Listen to what I say Pray for peace, people everywhere! Listen to what I say
The king is asking the people to listen to his message and pray for peace
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night He will bring us goodness and light He will bring us goodness and light
Despite the Child's current state, he will bring goodness and light to everyone
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, Do you hear what I hear
The lamb is asking the shepherd if he hears what he hears
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Noel Regney, Gloria Shayne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Diyanah _Rezdwan
Thumbs up for the best singer in the world!!! You're better than anyone!! Love you Idina!!!!
Emma H
RM_Namjoon, love your name!
Tan Min Yi
I'm such a crazy fans of Idina ^^ She's my favorite music idol .
Anthony Matthew
One of my favourite songs by Idina Menzel on her Idina Album!
GIMI Productions
Love this one! Dope sound!
Zulema
❤️❤️PERFECT!Like your other songs
MsWickedWolf
you're my hero Idina
Dani Horton
MsWickedWolf she's been my idol for years~
vera rivkin
I love this! I do, I do, I do!
Kiki
Love this song🥰
Your voice is sooo beautiful❤️❤️❤️