Kristin Chenoweth
A pocket-sized powerhouse of Broadway and television who brings a luminous soprano and sharp comic timing to every role she inhabits.
Born 1968 (age 58)·American actress and singer·Birthday: July 24·Generation X
Biography
Kristin Chenoweth proves that dynamite comes in small packages. The Oklahoma native, who stands just four-foot-eleven, built a career on the might of her crystalline soprano and effervescent stage presence. She first captured Broadway's attention by winning a Tony for 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,' but it was her creation of the bubbly, popular Glinda in 'Wicked' that made her a theater icon, introducing 'Popular' and 'For Good' to the cultural lexicon. Chenoweth never confined herself to the stage; she stole scenes on television as the devout, lovelorn Olive Snook in 'Pushing Daisies,' earning an Emmy, and brought political savvy to 'The West Wing.' Her classical vocal training allows her to move seamlessly from Broadway belting to opera and gospel, resulting in celebrated concert performances and albums. Whether playing a witch, a pie-maker's neighbor, or herself in concert, Chenoweth delivers a unique blend of warmth, wit, and staggering vocal precision.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Kristin was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kristin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Kristin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown' (1999).
- Originated the role of Glinda the Good Witch in the Broadway musical 'Wicked,' earning a Tony nomination.
- Won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for 'Pushing Daisies.'
- Received an Emmy nomination for her role as Annabeth Schott on 'The West Wing.'
- Released multiple solo albums, including 'As I Am,' which won a Grammy Award for Best Classical Crossover Album.
Did You Know?
She was adopted as an infant and was a champion baton twirler in her youth.
She has a degree in musical theatre from Oklahoma City University and studied opera at the prestigious Santa Fe Opera's apprentice program.
She is a devout Christian and has released albums of inspirational music.
She voiced the character of Gabi in the 'Rio' animated film series.
She suffered a serious injury in 2012 when a lighting rig fell on her on the set of the TV show 'The Good Wife.'
“I'm short, I'm blonde, and I'm perky. That's not all I am, but that's what people see.”
