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.
What Is This Feeling?
Kristin Chenoweth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My dear father
There's been some confusion
Over rooming here at Shiz
But of course, I'll care for Nessa
But of course, I'll rise above it
For I know that's how you'd want me to respond
Yes, there's been some confusion
For you see, my room-mate is
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar
And altogether quite impossible to describe
Blonde
What is this feeling
So sudden and new?
I felt the moment
I laid eyes on you
My pulse is rushing
My head is reeling
My face is flushing
What is this feeling?
Fervid as a flame
Does it have a name?
Yes!
Loathing
Unadulterated loathing
For your face
Your voice
Your clothing
Let's just say, I loathe it all!
Every little trait, however small
Makes my very flesh begin to crawl
With simple utter loathing
There's a strange exhilaration
In such total detestation
It's so pure! So strong!
Though I do admit it came on fast
Still I do believe that it can last
And I will be loathing
Loathing you
My whole life long!
Dear Glinda, you are just too good!
How do you stand it? I don't think I could!
She's a terror! She's a tartar!
We don't mean to show a bias
But Glinda you're a martyr!
Well, these things are sent to try us!
Poor Glinda, forced to reside
With someone so disgusticified
We just want to tell you
We're all on your side!
We share your
What is this feeling
So sudden and new?
I felt the moment
I laid eyes on you
My pulse is rushing
My head is reeling
Oh, what is this feeling?
Does it have a name?
Yes
There's a strange exhilaration
In such total detestation
It's so pure, so strong!
So strong!
Though I do admit it came on fast
Still I do believe that it can last all
And I will be loathing
For, forever loathing
Truly, deeply loathing you loathing you
My whole life long!
Unadulterated loathing
Boo!
The lyrics of What Is This Feeling from Wicked by Kristin Chenoweth & Idina Menzel describe a conversation between roommates Elphaba and Galinda (who later becomes Glinda the Good Witch) at the beginning of their college years at Shiz University. Elphaba is initially confused about the arrangement of rooming with Galinda, but agrees to take care of her disabled sister Nessa. However, she expresses her frustration towards Galinda's personality, which she finds to be peculiar and irritating.
As the conversation progresses, the two girls reveal that they have mutual feelings of loathing towards each other, despite Galinda's initial attempt to be friendly. The song's structure and melody also reflect the tension between the characters. The verses express Elphaba's confusion and frustration, while the chorus is a duet where both girls express their overwhelming dislike for each other.
The lyrics explore the feelings of dislike and hatred that can arise between two people who are thrust together in a difficult situation. It also highlights the theme of appearances vs. reality, as Galinda initially appears to be kind and friendly, but Elphaba's observations reveal a darker side to her personality.
Line by Line Meaning
Dearest darlingest momsie and popsical
My dear father
There's been some confusion over rooming here at Shiz
Unclear living arrangements at Shiz University
But of course, I'll care for Nessa
I will take care of my roommate, Nessa
But of course, I'll rise above it
I will handle it maturely
For I know that's how you'd want me to respond
I understand how you would want me to behave
Yes, there's been some confusion
The situation is still confusing
For you see, my room-mate is unusually and exceedingly peculiar
My roommate is very strange and difficult to describe
And altogether quite impossible to describe
Impossible to express in words
Blonde
She is blonde
What is this feeling so sudden and new?
I am experiencing a new and unfamiliar emotion
I felt the moment I laid eyes on you
I felt this emotion upon seeing you
My pulse is rushing, my head is reeling, my face is flushing
I am experiencing physical symptoms of this emotion
What is this feeling?
What is this indescribable emotion?
Fervid as a flame, does it have a name? Yes! Loathing
This emotion is intense and has a name: loathing
Unadulterated loathing for your face, your voice, your clothing
I strongly dislike everything about you
Let's just say, I loathe it all!
I hate absolutely everything about you
Every little trait, however small, makes my very flesh begin to crawl
Even your smallest behaviors disgust me
With simple utter loathing
My emotion towards you is purely loathing
There's a strange exhilaration in such total detestation
Feeling such intense hate towards you is oddly exhilarating
It's so pure! So strong!
This emotion is incredibly real and intense
Though I do admit it came on fast
This emotion came upon me quickly
Still I do believe that it can last
I think this feeling will persist
And I will be loathing
I will keep hating you
Loathing you my whole life long!
I will hate you for the rest of my life
Dear Glinda, you are just too good!
Glinda, you are too kind
How do you stand it? I don't think I could!
I don't know how you can handle this situation
She's a terror! She's a tartar!
She is difficult to deal with
We don't mean to show a bias
We don't want to be unfair
But Glinda you're a martyr!
You are suffering for the both of us
Well, these things are sent to try us!
Perhaps this is a test of our character
Poor Glinda, forced to reside with someone so disgusticified
I feel sorry for Glinda, having to live with someone like you
We just want to tell you we're all on your side!
We support you, Glinda
Truly, deeply loathing you, loathing you my whole life long
I want to emphasize how much I hate you, and that this will never change
Boo!
An expression of disapproval
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Mute Song Limited, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KAREN ANN POOLE, PAUL JOHN HARRIS, IAN KENNETH MASTERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind