Kristin Chenoweth talks ‘Schmigadoon!’ challenges, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in ‘Wicked’ movie

For The Win sat down with superstar Kristin Chenoweth to talk all things musical theater.

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Kristin Chenoweth, the Tony Award- and Emmy Award-winning actress, is no stranger to NASCAR.

The Oklahoma native said she used to watch NASCAR with her father and grandparents every weekend and cheered for the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. She’s previously been to races at Watkins Glen International and Sonoma Raceway, and Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, she’ll sing the national anthem ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series championship race (3 p.m. ET, NBC).

And she joked that, according to her father, singing the anthem for NASCAR’s title race means she’s “made it” and can now retire.

“There’s nothing like being there,” Chenoweth said about NASCAR races. “Just like being in a Broadway house, it’s the live performance. And that’s what they’re doing. They’re doing their thing live, and there’s nothing like it.”

Prior to her performance at the desert track, For The Win spoke with 53-year-old Chenoweth about racing, her Apple TV+ show Schmigadoon! and the recently announced cast of the movie adaptation of Wicked.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Do you think you could drive a race car? Would you want to?

I have always wanted to. But here’s the problem: I can barely see over the steering wheel of my own car, and I know the seats are very low because I did Wally’s World. And so no, I cannot, unless they built a special seat for me. And I’m faster than people realize.

And you think Kyle Larson is going to win NASCAR’s championship?

I do. I just don’t think you can count [Denny] Hamlin out though. He’s a superstar and a legend, so you can’t count him out.

What’s the number one thing that people recognize you on the street for?

Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel in Wicked. (JOAN MARCUS)

It can be of various and sundry things. I get a lot of West Wing. I get a lot of Wicked. I get a lot of Glee, Pushing Daisies. I get a lot of, gosh, RV. The movie RV, that doesn’t go away.

Recently, I’ve just done a show called Schmigadoon! that was very well received. I’m always surprised when people don’t know that I sing. They’re like, “You were on West Wing, and da da da, and da da da. You don’t sing.” I’m like, “Yes, I do.”

Was your role in Schmigadoon! particularly challenging compared with others you’ve played?

It was challenging in one way. I had a 16-page song. And the director — this was my fifth project with Barry Sonnenfeld — decided to have not one cut. So I did the entire number, which was a patter song, without one cut. Not one cut? Can I say that again? Not one cut.

How long of a song is that when you say 16 pages?

Almost five minutes.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were recently cast in Wicked the movie. What do you think they’ll bring to the roles of Elphaba and Glinda?

Obviously, they’re going to bring their strong vocals. But what I love seeing is the diversity. I’m going to bring that up because it’s very important that we we have two girls — both are wicked, and both are good. And I like that we have Cynthia, who is a powerhouse and will act the role. Of course, she’s going to sing it like nobody’s business, but she’s going to really put us there.

And I think Ariana, because I’ve known her so long, is Glinda she’s not going to be acting. And she can sing her face off. So at the center of it, that’s the love story, the two women. And I personally feel that they got it right.

Congrats to two amazing women. May it change your lives for the better forever and ever as it has for us. So much love. https://t.co/2avPFA9OBk

— Idina Menzel (@idinamenzel) November 5, 2021

When you say Ariana is Glinda, what do you mean by that?

She’s funny, people don’t understand that she’s funny. We’ve been doing The Voice together. Or, I should say, I’ve joined her as a mentor for four or six episodes or something. She is so funny. I don’t know that people understand that Ariana Grande is funny.

And Glinda is a very challenging role because she’s the one that has the if I may, the biggest growth. She has the biggest arc, and Ariana has the chops to do it. And I’m not even talking about singing.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever been this proud. From the very first day I met you, you were destined for this role. Congratulations @ArianaGrande! The best Glinda you will be with Cynthia by your side I love you!! @WICKED_Musical #wicked pic.twitter.com/yUnboWPcVW

— Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) November 5, 2021

If you could play any musical role from any time period, what would it be?

There’s too many things. I love Dolly Parton. I’m lacking a couple things, but I’d love to play her. I love Tammy Faye Bakker’s story. Those are two women — one was in the ’80s, and Dolly is a classic legend.

The Tony award is named after Antoinette Perry, and I’ve always wondered about her story. It’s a very interesting one, and I thought that would be cool. But I could go on and on.