What Is Kristin Chenoweth's Net Worth?
Kristin Chenoweth is an American actress and singer with a net worth of $16 million. Kristin Chenoweth is probably best known for her roles on the television shows "Glee" and "Pushing Daisies" and for her Tony-nominated performance in the Broadway play "Wicked."
Chenoweth's rise to fame began in the theater world with her performance as Precious McGuire in "Steel Pier" (1997), which earned her a Theatre World Award. However, it was her role as Sally Brown in the Broadway production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (1999) that truly showcased her talent, earning her a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
But perhaps the most significant breakthrough in Kristin's career came with the smash-hit musical "Wicked" (2003), in which she originated the role of Glinda, the Good Witch. Her performance was widely acclaimed and earned her another Tony nomination. This role solidified her status as a Broadway icon and introduced her to a broader audience.
Beyond the stage, Chenoweth has had considerable success on television. She won an Emmy Award for her role as Olive Snook on the whimsically quirky "Pushing Daisies." Her television career is expansive, with notable guest appearances on shows like "Glee," where her role as the talented but troubled April Rhodes was met with critical acclaim, and "The West Wing," playing media consultant Annabeth Schott.
In film, Kristin has showcased her talent in a variety of roles, from the animated "Rio 2" to the Disney musical "Descendants," in which she played the classic villain Maleficent. Moreover, her voice work has been featured in films like "The Peanuts Movie," bringing her full circle to the world of Charlie Brown.
Chenoweth has also released several albums, blending musical theatre, pop, and gospel and showcasing her versatility as a singer. Her foray into solo concert performances and tours has been met with positive reception, further proving her ability to captivate an audience.
Early Life
Kristin Chenoweth was born Kristi Dawn Chenoweth on July 24, 1968, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. She was adopted when she was five days old by Junie Smith Chenoweth and Jerry Morris Chenoweth, who both worked as chemical engineers. She has stated that she is one-quarter Cherokee. As an adult, Kristin met her biological mother, whose uncle had seen Chenoweth on a late-night talk show a decade earlier and commented on their resemblance. She showed an interest in music and performing at a young age, and she would sing gospel songs at local churches. At the age of 12, Kristin performed at the Southern Baptist Convention, where she sang the Evie song "Four Feet Eleven," which is her actual height. She attended Broken Arrow High School, where she was active in the school's theater department. After graduating, Chenoweth attended Oklahoma City College, a small private Christian college. She was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority, and she participated in beauty pageants, winning the title of Miss Oklahoma City University. In 1990, Kristin graduated with a bachelor's degree in musical theatre but remained at the school to obtain a master's degree. She was the second runner-up for the title of Miss Oklahoma in 1991, and in 1992, she completed her master's degree in opera performance.
Early Career
Chenoweth performed at The Lyric Theater in Oklahoma City while finishing her master's degree, and she occasionally traveled to perform at regional theaters. Her early theater work includes roles in "Promises, Promises" and "The King and I." She won the title of "Most Promising Up-and-Coming Singer" at the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions in 1992. The prize came with the title in addition to a full scholarship to the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Prior to her classes beginning, Kristin went to New York City to help a friend move, and she auditioned for a part in the Paper Mills Playhouse production "Animal Crackers." Once she got the part, she decided to turn down the scholarship, and she moved to New York to pursue a career in musical theater.
Chenoweth spent the nineties acting in regional productions and Off-Broadway plays, including "Babes in Arms," "Phantom," "The Fantasticks," and "Box Office of the Damned." Her Broadway debut came in 1997 with a role in the musical "Steel Pier," and for her performance, she was awarded a Theatre World Award. In 1999, she appeared in the Broadway revival "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," starring as the title character's younger sister. She won the Tony and Drama Desk award for her performance. Kristin also made her television debut in 1999 with a role in the mini-series "Paramour" and an appearance on the children's series "The Wonderful World of Disney." In 2003, she became known to mainstream audiences with her role as Glinda in the Broadway play "Wicked."
Television and Film
In the 2000s, Chenoweth began to transition into acting on television and film but continued to act in stage productions. In 2001, she was the star of the television series "Kristin," which was canceled after one season. The following year, she made her film debut in "Topa Topa Bluffs," which was directed by Oscar Award winner Eric Simonson. In 2005, she made herself known to mainstream audiences with a supporting role in "Bewitched" alongside Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, and Michael Kaine. Although the film was panned among critics and had performed mediocrely at the box office, Chenoweth won an award for Outstanding Supporting Actress Performance in a Film at the 2006 First Americans in the Arts Awards. Her co-stars received Razzie Award nominations. Kristin continued in film with a supporting role in the 2006 family-friendly comedy "RV" in addition to co-starring with Steve Martin in "The Pink Panther," which was the tenth installment of the franchise. She had supporting roles in three more film releases that year, the comedy-dramas "Running with Scissors" and "Stranger Than Fiction" and the Christmas comedy "Deck the Halls." In 2008, she had a supporting role in "Four Christmases" alongside Reese Witherspoon, and the following year, she appeared in the indie drama "Into Temptation."
As Kristin was playing supporting roles in feature films, she was also building her resume in television. From 2004 to 2006, she had a recurring role on the popular political drama series "The West Wing," and she had a prominent role on the comedy-drama series "Pushing Daisies" from 2007 to 2009. She was nominated for two Emmy Awards for her work in the latter show, and she, along with the cast of "The West Wing," received two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Chenoweth starred in the 2009 animated comedy series "Sit Down, Shut Up," alongside Will Arnett and Jason Bateman, and later that year, she began a recurring role as April Rhodes on the teen musical drama "Glee." She appeared in season four of the political drama "The Good Wife" in 2012 but left the show due to injuries sustained on set. In 2017, she was featured on the Starz show "American Gods," and in 2018, she was in the second season of the surreal comedy "Trial & Error."
Personal life
Chenoweth has dated actors Seth Green and Lane Garrison as well as writer/producer Aaron Sorkin. She began a relationship with Josh Bryant of the country music group Backroad Anthem in 2018, and they married on September 2, 2023, after a nearly two-year engagement.
In 2009, Kristin published the memoir "A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages." She has been open about her Christian faith but has described herself as socially liberal. She suffers from an inner ear condition called Ménière's disease that causes vertigo, and it has caused her to sometimes need to use her cast members for balance on stage.