Kristin Chenoweth mesmerises fans with ‘Star Spangled Banner' at NBA Finals Game 7
Kristin Chenoweth always wanted to play basketball but couldn't due to her 4-foot-11 height. She still somehow made it to the NBA Finals. Kristin Chenoweth performs during the 54th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards gala on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.(AP File)
The Oklahoma native and unabashed Thunder fan was the pick to perform 'The Star-Spangled Banner' before Game 7 of the title series between the Thunder and the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night.
Kristina Chenoweth's performance aired live on ABC at 8 PM EDT, shortly before tipoff of the NBA Finals Game 7. Watch the performance here: Who is Kristina Chenoweth?
Kristina Chenoweth is an award-winning actress, singer, and inductee into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
Born on July 24, 1968, Chenoweth was adopted by Junie Smith Chenoweth and Jerry Morris Chenoweth, both chemical engineers from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, a suburb of Tulsa. She was then just a 5-day-old baby.
She graduated from Broken Arrow Senior High School, where she participated in school plays. Chenoweth then attended Oklahoma City University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in musical theatre in 1990 and a master's degree in opera performance in 1992.
Kristin Chenoweth started singing early and performed regional plays while studying at OKU. She also participated in several singing contests and was cast in the 1993 Paper Mill Playhouse production of the musical Animal Crackers as Arabella Rittenhouse.
Chenoweth won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown on Broadway. She was nominated for a second Tony Award for originating the role of Glinda in the musical Wicked in 2003.
Her notable television roles include Annabeth Schott in NBC's The West Wing and Olive Snook on the comedy drama Pushing Daisies, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2009. Kristin Chenoweth husband
Kristin Chenoweth is married to musician Josh Bryant, who is 13 years her junior. The couple got married in 2023. Kristin Chenoweth's net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Kristin Chenoweth is worth $16 million. She has several music albums and has worked in theatre, TV, and movies. Her music blends musical theatre, pop, and gospel and showcases her versatility as a singer.
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Oklahoma native, Thunder fan Kristin Chenoweth performs national anthem before Game 7 of NBA Finals
At 4-foot-11, Kristin Chenoweth always wanted to play basketball. It never happened, but she still made it to the NBA Finals. The award-winning actress, singer, Oklahoma native, Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductee and unabashed Thunder fan sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Game 7 of the title series between the Thunder and the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night. Chenoweth's performance aired live on ABC shortly before tipoff of the season's final game. — NBA (@NBA) She has performed on some of the biggest stages in the world - but doing the anthem for a Thunder game gives her butterflies. "Let me just say, if they had anxiety medication for Thunder fans, I'd be taking it," Chenoweth, dressed in a Thunder sweatshirt, told The Associated Press after her soundcheck at the arena on Sunday. Chenoweth's Thunder fandom has been no secret since the franchise's early years, though she also has professed at times to liking the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks as well. That said, the Thunder are clearly her top choice - so much so that she once told the Tulsa World she spent three hours bedazzling a Thunder hat. She went to Oklahoma City University after growing up in Broken Arrow, about 115 miles northeast of where the Thunder play. And her 8-year-old dog's name is Thunder. She even dressed the pup up once in a Thunder outfit. "I never miss a game unless I'm on stage," Chenoweth said. "I was a cheerleader in high school in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and I loved football, but my favorite was basketball. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo I like how much of a team player you've got to be. ... And this is my team." Chenoweth has sung the anthem at a few Thunder games in the past, sometimes alone and at least once with children from her Chenoweth Broadway Bootcamp. That camp is part of the arts and education fund that she founded to cultivate "young artistic expression by enriching children's lives through the power of education, entertainment and experience." "I've had some pretty big moments in my life in the entertainment field, but this one, I don't know why, makes me nervous," Chenoweth said. "I just am very honored that they asked. And I'm proud of these kids. I mean, we have come so far. Of course I want us to win. When the NFL has hired me for the anthem, you remain neutral. But the NBA didn't hire me for this, so I'm Thundering it up." And the anthem - which the soprano finished with her own flair - is a tough song to perform, she said. Singing the words written by Francis Scott Key about the defense of Fort McHenry is a duty she takes seriously. "Actually thinking about what he saw, it's really important for me to remember the words and talk about what they meant then and what they mean to us now," Chenoweth said. Chenoweth won a Tony Award in 1999 for best featured actress in a musical for her role in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." She received two Tony nominations for best leading actress in a musical, one in 2004 for playing Glinda in "Wicked" - she lost to co-star Idina Menzel - and the other in 2015 for playing 1930s Hollywood diva Lily Garland in "On the Twentieth Century." And in 2009, she won an Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series for her work on ABC's "Pushing Daisies." She returns to Broadway this fall, playing Jackie Siegel in "The Queen of Versailles." "I still have the desire," Chenoweth said. "I think really what inspires me lately is young talent. I'm seeing and watching and learning from them. Hopefully they're learning from me. And there's nothing better than watching a budding talent whether it's basketball or a singer, an artist, it's my jam. What keeps me going right now is other people inspiring me to do what I love."
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Pacers vs Thunder: Kristin Chenoweth opens NBA Finals Game 7 with national anthem
Tony and Emmy Award-winning performer Kristin Chenoweth delivered a stirring rendition of the US national anthem ahead of Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. Standing at center court, the Broadway and television star captivated the packed arena with her powerful vocals, setting a patriotic tone by singing ' The Star-Spangled Banner ' before the high-stakes showdown between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder . — NBA (@NBA) The Oklahoma native has graced some of the world's biggest stages, but singing the national anthem at a Thunder game still gives her butterflies. 'Let me just say, if they had anxiety medication for Thunder fans, I'd be taking it," Chenoweth, dressed in a Thunder sweatshirt, told news agency AP before her performance on Sunday. Live Events Chenoweth has been a proud Thunder fan since the franchise's early days, though she's also expressed admiration for teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks over the years. Her Thunder loyalty runs deep - so much so that she named her 8-year-old dog 'Thunder'. The Broadway star even once dressed her pup in a full Thunder outfit, showcasing her team spirit in adorable fashion.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Kristin Chenoweth mesmerises fans with ‘Star Spangled Banner' at NBA Finals Game 7
Kristin Chenoweth always wanted to play basketball but couldn't due to her 4-foot-11 height. She still somehow made it to the NBA Finals. Kristin Chenoweth performs during the 54th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards gala on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.(AP File) The Oklahoma native and unabashed Thunder fan was the pick to perform 'The Star-Spangled Banner' before Game 7 of the title series between the Thunder and the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night. Kristina Chenoweth's performance aired live on ABC at 8 PM EDT, shortly before tipoff of the NBA Finals Game 7. Watch the performance here: Who is Kristina Chenoweth? Kristina Chenoweth is an award-winning actress, singer, and inductee into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Born on July 24, 1968, Chenoweth was adopted by Junie Smith Chenoweth and Jerry Morris Chenoweth, both chemical engineers from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, a suburb of Tulsa. She was then just a 5-day-old baby. She graduated from Broken Arrow Senior High School, where she participated in school plays. Chenoweth then attended Oklahoma City University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in musical theatre in 1990 and a master's degree in opera performance in 1992. Kristin Chenoweth started singing early and performed regional plays while studying at OKU. She also participated in several singing contests and was cast in the 1993 Paper Mill Playhouse production of the musical Animal Crackers as Arabella Rittenhouse. Chenoweth won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown on Broadway. She was nominated for a second Tony Award for originating the role of Glinda in the musical Wicked in 2003. Her notable television roles include Annabeth Schott in NBC's The West Wing and Olive Snook on the comedy drama Pushing Daisies, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2009. Kristin Chenoweth husband Kristin Chenoweth is married to musician Josh Bryant, who is 13 years her junior. The couple got married in 2023. Kristin Chenoweth's net worth According to Celebrity Net Worth, Kristin Chenoweth is worth $16 million. She has several music albums and has worked in theatre, TV, and movies. Her music blends musical theatre, pop, and gospel and showcases her versatility as a singer.
