Chenoweth was born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. She graduated from Oklahoma City University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in musical theater and a master's degree in opera performance. She is a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. In 1991, she won the title of "Miss OCU" and went on to win second runner-up in the Miss Oklahoma pageant. She performed at Opryland USA. She won a "most talented up-and-coming singer" award in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, which came with a full scholarship to Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts; she turned down the scholarship when she auditioned and won a part on an off-Broadway show. She also enjoyed watching her boyfriend at the time (professional baseball player Shawn Bryant) pitch.
Chenoweth made her Broadway debut in a production of Molière's Scapin starring Bill Irwin, followed in the spring of 1997 by the unsuccessful musical Steel Pier by John Kander and Fred Ebb, for which she won a Theatre World award. The following season, she appeared in the City Center Encores! production of the George and Ira Gershwin musical Strike Up the Band and the Lincoln Center Theater production of William Finn's A New Brain.
During the 1998–1999 season, she performed the role of Sally in the Broadway revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, sweeping the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards as the season's Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She then starred in the Broadway comedy Epic Proportions, followed by appearances in ABC's television adaptation of the musical Annie (as Lily St. Regis), and in the leading role of Daisy Gamble in the City Center Encores! production of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
In 2003, Chenoweth performed songs from her album Let Yourself Go in concert for Lincoln Center's 5th American Songbook. She also performed in City Center Encores! 10th Anniversary Bash.
In London, she was involved in Divas at Donmar for director Sam Mendes, then appeared in the Actor's Fund Benefit Concert of the musical Funny Girl in New York City.
Chenoweth was a part of ABC's An American Celebration at Ford's Theater with Kelsey Grammer, NBC's Salute to the Olympic Winners, The Kennedy Center Gala honoring Julie Andrews, and an episode of Frasier on NBC. She also starred as Marian Paroo in the ABC television production of Meredith Willson's The Music Man, opposite Matthew Broderick.
In October 2003, Chenoweth returned to Broadway in Wicked, a musical about the early years of the witches of Oz. She was nominated for a Tony as Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance as Glinda, but lost to co-star Idina Menzel (who played Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West).
Chenoweth's role in Wicked also brought the opportunity to co-star in Nora Ephron's 2005 film version of Bewitched. The film's star, Nicole Kidman, had attended a performance of Wicked and was so impressed with Chenoweth's charisma and stage presence that Kidman requested to Ephron that Chenoweth be cast in the film. Chenoweth got the part of Maria Kelly, Kidman's character's friend, neighbor, and personal assistant.
Chenoweth has also performed leading roles at the Goodspeed Opera House and the Guthrie Theatre, and she was chosen by the late Jerome Robbins as the guest soloist in his West Side Story Suite of Dances at New York City Ballet. She also starred in a short-lived semi-biographical sitcom, Kristin, for NBC. It was a mid-season replacement in 2001 that co-starred Jon Tenney, but it was cancelled after only six episodes.
Beginning in the sixth season (2004–2005) of The West Wing, Chenoweth has had a recurring role playing media consultant Annabeth Schott; as of the seventh season she is featured in the opening credits. In 2006, she is scheduled to appear in a remarkable five films including The Pink Panther, R.V., and Stranger Than Fiction. Chenoweth then will star in Asphalt Beach and in a bio-pic of Dusty Springfield.
Chenoweth is a Christian, but was disinvited from a Women of Faith conference in September 2005 because of her positive attitude toward gays and lesbians. She released an album in April 2005 called As I Am that's a mixture of hymns and contemporary Christian music, with arrangements that sound more like adult contemporary.
Chenoweth is 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) tall. She appeared in the March 2006 issue of FHM.
Popular
Kristin Chenoweth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You really don't have to do that
I know, that's what makes me so nice!
Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I
And let's face it, who isn't less fortunate than I?
And when someone needs a makeover
I simply have to take over!
I know, I know exactly what they need!
And even in your case
Though it's the toughest case I've yet to face
Don't worry, I'm determined to succeed!
Follow my lead
And yes indeed, you will be
Popular!
You're gonna be popular!
I'll teach you the proper poise
When you talk to boys
Little ways to flirt and flounce
Ooh!
I'll show you what shoes to wear!
How to fix your hair!
Everything that really counts to be
Popular!
I'll help you be popular!
You'll hang with the right cohorts
You'll be good at sports
Know the slang you've got to know
So let's start
'Cause you've got an awfully long way to go!
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 popu-ler... lar
La la, la la!
We're gonna make you pop-you-lar!
When I see depressing creatures
With unprepossessing features
I remind them on their own behalf
To think of
Celebrated heads of state
Or specially great communicators!
Did they have brains or knowledge?
Don't make me laugh!
They were popular!
Please!
It's all about popular
It's not about aptitude
It's the way you're viewed
So it's very shrewd to be
Very very popular
Like me!
Why, Miss Elphaba, look at you. You're beautiful!
I, I have to go
You're welcome
And though you protest
Your disinterest
I know clandestinely
You're gonna grin and bear it!
Your new found popularity!
Aah!
La la, la la!
You'll be popular!
Just not quite as popular as me!
The lyrics of Kristin Chenoweth's song "Popular" from the musical Wicked are a satirical take on popularity and the lengths some people will go to become popular. In the musical, the character of Glinda sings the song to Elphaba, who is unpopular and viewed as different by society. Glinda offers to make Elphaba "popular" by teaching her how to act, dress and talk like the "right" kind of person. She believes that popularity is everything in life and is convinced that she can make Elphaba popular with her tips and tricks.
The song is filled with irony and sarcasm, as Glinda is shown to be judgmental, condescending, and superficial. She believes that popularity is not about aptitude, but rather the way someone is viewed by others. She appears to be helpful to Elphaba, but her intentions are driven by her desire to be seen as the most popular person in society, rather than to help Elphaba feel accepted for who she is.
The song also highlights the societal pressure to conform to a certain standard or way of being to be accepted and popular. It critiques the shallow nature of society and how people are judged based on their appearance, social status, and popularity. Ultimately, the song encourages people to embrace their unique qualities and not feel pressured to conform to society's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Elphie, now that we're friends, I've decided to make you my new project!
Since we've become friends, I want to help make you more popular.
You really don't have to do that
It's not necessary for you to help me in this way.
I know, that's what makes me so nice!
I understand that being helpful is a good trait to have.
Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I
Whenever I come across someone who's less lucky than me.
And let's face it, who isn't less fortunate than I?
I'm aware that I'm pretty fortunate compared to most people.
My tender heart tends to start to bleed
I'm a sensitive person, and I get emotional easily.
And when someone needs a makeover
Whenever someone needs help improving their appearance or social skills.
I simply have to take over!
I can't resist taking charge of the situation.
I know, I know exactly what they need!
I'm confident that I know what will benefit them the most.
And even in your case
Even when it comes to you.
Though it's the toughest case I've yet to face
Even though you're going to be difficult to help.
Don't worry, I'm determined to succeed!
I'm determined to help you improve your popularity!
Follow my lead
Do what I say and follow my guidance.
And yes indeed, you will be popular!
I'm certain you'll become popular!
You're gonna be popular!
You will definitely become a popular person!
I'll teach you the proper poise
I'll show you how to have good posture and appear self-assured.
When you talk to boys
When speaking with males (in a flirtatious or romantic manner).
Little ways to flirt and flounce
How to subtly indicate your attraction to someone through your movements and expressions.
Ooh!
An exclamation denoting excitement or enthusiasm.
I'll show you what shoes to wear!
I'll help you choose the best footwear for different occasions.
How to fix your hair!
I'll teach you how to style your hair attractively.
Everything that really counts to be popular!
All the manners and behaviors that are essential to being popular.
You'll hang with the right cohorts
You'll spend time with the popular crowd.
You'll be good at sports
You'll excel in athletics.
Know the slang you've got to know
Be familiar with the casual language used by young people.
So let's start
Let's begin working on these things.
'Cause you've got an awfully long way to go!
You need to make a lot of progress to become popular!
Don't be offended by my frank analysis
Please don't take offense at my honest appraisal of your situation.
Think of it as personality dialysis
Consider it a way to cleanse and improve your personality.
Now that I've chosen to become a pal, a sister, and advisor
I'm going to support you in your quest to become popular.
There's nobody wiser!
There's no one who knows more than me about how to become popular.
Not when it comes to popular!
Especially when it comes to being popular!
I know about popular
I have extensive knowledge of what makes people popular.
And with an assist from me
And with my help and guidance.
To be who you'll be
To transform into the person you can become.
Instead of dreary who you were
Rather than being the boring person you previously were.
Well, are
Currently.
There's nothing that can stop you
There's no obstacle that cannot be overcome.
From becoming popu-ler... lar
From achieving your goal of being popular.
La la, la la!
A meaningless vocalization expressing happiness or enthusiasm.
We're gonna make you pop-you-lar!
We're going to help you become a popular person!
When I see depressing creatures
When I see people who are sad or downtrodden.
With unprepossessing features
With unattractive appearances.
I remind them on their own behalf
I remind them for their own benefit.
To think of celebrated heads of state
To consider famous and accomplished political leaders.
Or specially great communicators!
Or people who were especially skilled at communicating with others.
Did they have brains or knowledge?
Did their intelligence or knowledge make them popular?
Don't make me laugh!
The answer is no!
They were popular!
They became popular for other reasons.
Please!
An exclamation expressing impatience or exasperation.
It's all about popular
Being popular is what really matters.
It's not about aptitude
It's not about natural ability or intelligence.
It's the way you're viewed
It's how other people see and perceive you.
So it's very shrewd to be
It's clever or wise to become popular.
Very very popular
Extremely, overwhelmingly popular.
Like me!
Just like myself!
Why, Miss Elphaba, look at you. You're beautiful!
Oh my, Elphaba, you look amazing!
I, I have to go
I need to leave now.
You're welcome
A polite response to receiving gratitude.
And though you protest
Even though you're disagreeing with me.
Your disinterest
Your lack of interest.
I know clandestinely
I'm aware secretly or discreetly.
You're gonna grin and bear it!
You'll eventually accept what I'm saying and try to be more popular.
Your new found popularity!
The popularity that you'll acquire in the future.
Aah!
An exclamation of excitement or happiness.
Just not quite as popular as me!
But not quite as popular as myself!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stephen Lawrence Schwartz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind