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A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages
"Life's too short. I'm not."
You might know her as a Tony Award-winning Broadway star, who originated the role of Galinda the Good Witch in the smash musical Wicked and won a Tony for 1999's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Or you may recognize her from her starring roles on TV�The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, Sesame Street...oh, and her Huge Hit Sitcom Kristin on NBC. (Huge hit. L.A. breast-implant huge. Ask either of the people who watched it.) Or maybe you saw her sexy spread in FHM magazine? Or her appearance on Pat Robertson's The 700 Club? Kristin is a wonderful collection of contradictions—but everyone who's ever met her remembers her as the little girl with the big voice. At four foot eleven, Kristin Chenoweth is an immense talent in a petite but powerful package.
In this lively, laugh-out-loud book, Kristin shares her journey from Oklahoma beauty queen to Broadway leading lady, reflecting on how faith and family have kept her grounded in the dysfunctional rodeo of show biz. The daughter of an engineer and a nurse, Kristin was singing in front of thousands at Baptist conventions by age twelve and winning beauty pageants by age twenty-two. (Well, actually she was second runner-up almost every freaking time. But, hey, she's not bitter.) On her way to a career as a professional opera singer, she stopped in New York to visit a friend and went on a whim to an audition. Through a combination of talent, hard work, and (she's quick to add) the grace of God, Kristin took Broadway by storm. But of course, into every storm, the occasional drizzle of disaster must fall.
Filled with wit, wisdom, and backstage insight, A Little Bit Wicked is long on love and short on sleep; it's essential reading for Kristin's legions of fans and an uplifting story for anyone seeking motivation to follow his or her dreams—over the rainbow and beyond.
You might know her as a Tony Award-winning Broadway star, who originated the role of Galinda the Good Witch in the smash musical Wicked and won a Tony for 1999's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Or you may recognize her from her starring roles on TV�The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, Sesame Street...oh, and her Huge Hit Sitcom Kristin on NBC. (Huge hit. L.A. breast-implant huge. Ask either of the people who watched it.) Or maybe you saw her sexy spread in FHM magazine? Or her appearance on Pat Robertson's The 700 Club? Kristin is a wonderful collection of contradictions—but everyone who's ever met her remembers her as the little girl with the big voice. At four foot eleven, Kristin Chenoweth is an immense talent in a petite but powerful package.
In this lively, laugh-out-loud book, Kristin shares her journey from Oklahoma beauty queen to Broadway leading lady, reflecting on how faith and family have kept her grounded in the dysfunctional rodeo of show biz. The daughter of an engineer and a nurse, Kristin was singing in front of thousands at Baptist conventions by age twelve and winning beauty pageants by age twenty-two. (Well, actually she was second runner-up almost every freaking time. But, hey, she's not bitter.) On her way to a career as a professional opera singer, she stopped in New York to visit a friend and went on a whim to an audition. Through a combination of talent, hard work, and (she's quick to add) the grace of God, Kristin took Broadway by storm. But of course, into every storm, the occasional drizzle of disaster must fall.
Filled with wit, wisdom, and backstage insight, A Little Bit Wicked is long on love and short on sleep; it's essential reading for Kristin's legions of fans and an uplifting story for anyone seeking motivation to follow his or her dreams—over the rainbow and beyond.
232 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2009
143 people are currently reading
13k people want to read
About the author
Kristin Chenoweth
16Ìýbooks212ÌýfollowersKristin Chenoweth is an American singer, musical theatre, film, and television actress, and author. Some of her best-known roles have included her Tony Award winning role as Sally Brown in Broadway's ,You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, her role as Glinda in Broadway's Wicked, and her role as Annabeth Schott in television's The West Wing. She was a cast member on the ABC comedy-drama Pushing Daisies; her portrayal of Olive Snook on that show was recognized with a 2009 Primetime Emmy Award.
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March 20, 2024I wanted to read A Little Bit Wicked because I am a big fan of Kristin Chenoweth. Kristin tells her story about the beginning of her life, struggles, and decisions in a refreshingly honest, funny, and endearing manner. When I read her story, I didn't know as much about her background, education, adoption, early life in Oklahoma, and her formative years developing her considerable talent. Her first big break that occurs in New York City, leads her away from a career in Opera and on to Broadway, TV and movies. She recounts how her faith and family have kept her grounded. In her own words, the book is a "tell-a-little", not a "tell-all".
I would definitely recommend this book to any of her fans. -Jacque C.
I would definitely recommend this book to any of her fans. -Jacque C.
January 26, 2010
I am a big fan of Kristin Chenoweth so this was definitely a treat for me to read. I listen to the soundtrack for Wicked on my iPod all the time. I only wish I would have seen her perform as "Glinda" in Wicked live with Idina Menzel. But nonetheless, she was my favorite character on Pushing Daisies as Olive Snook. Oh, and did I mention her fabulous cameo on Glee (to die for). So I couldn't help but picking up this book in order to get more insider information on this tiny (with a very big voice) gal.
The moment you open the book you quickly hear Kristin's voice - you can hear her southern drawl, and her personality really shines through with each paragraph. Reading about her trials and tribulations made me love her even more.
At first the time line is a bit confusing because she runs back and forth from past to present, but her tone of writing is so fun that you can definitely overlook that. After awhile you get used to the skipping around and it just becomes part of the charm.
I loved getting insight into the workings of Broadway, how she felt about being adopted, her faith, her schooling, Wicked, her love life, that huge mega-hit "Kristin", and it all wrapped up into this "tiny" package that you can definitely envision as being KRISTIN.
I thought it was interesting, light and more than once found myself laughing out loud. If you're a fan of Kristin Chenoweth, then you definitely have to read this (although I will forewarn this not a tell-all book; she doesn't dish on any co-stars or friends and I really appreciated that).
The moment you open the book you quickly hear Kristin's voice - you can hear her southern drawl, and her personality really shines through with each paragraph. Reading about her trials and tribulations made me love her even more.
At first the time line is a bit confusing because she runs back and forth from past to present, but her tone of writing is so fun that you can definitely overlook that. After awhile you get used to the skipping around and it just becomes part of the charm.
I loved getting insight into the workings of Broadway, how she felt about being adopted, her faith, her schooling, Wicked, her love life, that huge mega-hit "Kristin", and it all wrapped up into this "tiny" package that you can definitely envision as being KRISTIN.
I thought it was interesting, light and more than once found myself laughing out loud. If you're a fan of Kristin Chenoweth, then you definitely have to read this (although I will forewarn this not a tell-all book; she doesn't dish on any co-stars or friends and I really appreciated that).
March 19, 2013
After reading this book, I want to shake Kristen Chenoweth by the shoulders and say, "Listen, honey, life isn't that great. Cheer down."
Seriously: I love Kristin Chenoweth's perky, upbeat personality. But in a book-length autobiography, there is a thin line between perkiness and superficiality, and this book seems to cross it. Chenoweth is a highly successful singer and entertainer, but there is little sense of the struggles, headaches, and rejections that a young girl from Oklahoma must have dealt with on her way to the top of one of the world's most competitive professions. Everyone she meets is an utter joy, and she loves them. God seems to have handed her one opportunity after another, which she made the most of through her cockeyed optimism.
Her relationship with Idina Menzel, her co-star in Wicked, is a case in point. Rumor is that the relationship between the two is strained, in part because both were nominated for a Tony in Wicked, and Menzel won. I'm guessing that the relationship is indeed strained, but not because Chenoweth openly admits it. I'm basing that instead on the fact that (a) Chenoweth seems to heap less praise on Menzel than she does on almost everyone else in the book, (b) the most she'll say about the subject is "our paths haven't crossed enough for a mediocre rivalry, let alone a healthy steam of hatred" and "I'm not a hater. It takes too much energy."
Also, and I found this rather interesting, (c) she says this of the Tony Award: "I wasn't at all surprised when she [Menzel] won, and I couldn't have been happier." Remember when Chenoweth sang "I Couldn't Be Happier" in Wicked? Her character wasn't very happy when she was singing that song. Is Chenoweth giving her fans a Wicked little hint here? Why doesn't she just come out and say it?
If you are interested in cute perky stories about Chenoweth's glide up the ladder of success -- and particularly if you are interested in her recipies for cookies and pies, which are for some reason scattered throughout the chapters -- this could be the book for you. If you want the behind-the-scenes inside story of her Broadway, stage, and television shows and her road to success, check out the internet gossip sites.
Seriously: I love Kristin Chenoweth's perky, upbeat personality. But in a book-length autobiography, there is a thin line between perkiness and superficiality, and this book seems to cross it. Chenoweth is a highly successful singer and entertainer, but there is little sense of the struggles, headaches, and rejections that a young girl from Oklahoma must have dealt with on her way to the top of one of the world's most competitive professions. Everyone she meets is an utter joy, and she loves them. God seems to have handed her one opportunity after another, which she made the most of through her cockeyed optimism.
Her relationship with Idina Menzel, her co-star in Wicked, is a case in point. Rumor is that the relationship between the two is strained, in part because both were nominated for a Tony in Wicked, and Menzel won. I'm guessing that the relationship is indeed strained, but not because Chenoweth openly admits it. I'm basing that instead on the fact that (a) Chenoweth seems to heap less praise on Menzel than she does on almost everyone else in the book, (b) the most she'll say about the subject is "our paths haven't crossed enough for a mediocre rivalry, let alone a healthy steam of hatred" and "I'm not a hater. It takes too much energy."
Also, and I found this rather interesting, (c) she says this of the Tony Award: "I wasn't at all surprised when she [Menzel] won, and I couldn't have been happier." Remember when Chenoweth sang "I Couldn't Be Happier" in Wicked? Her character wasn't very happy when she was singing that song. Is Chenoweth giving her fans a Wicked little hint here? Why doesn't she just come out and say it?
If you are interested in cute perky stories about Chenoweth's glide up the ladder of success -- and particularly if you are interested in her recipies for cookies and pies, which are for some reason scattered throughout the chapters -- this could be the book for you. If you want the behind-the-scenes inside story of her Broadway, stage, and television shows and her road to success, check out the internet gossip sites.
January 28, 2012
Bought on Audible
Actual Rating 4.5 Wine Glasses
What I Loved: Kristin Chenoweth is just such a delightful personality. She has great stories from her life both professionally and personally. I don't feel like she held anything back! She does it with such poise, humor, and a little wink/nudge to her friends. This was like getting a glimpse into what I think is one of the most down-to-earth celebrities there is today. It might be her southern roots but you just feel like she is someone you could sit down, have dinner, and chat about day to day stuff.
What I Liked: Her friends, family, and moments that just made me giggle hysterically! I love that she tackled everything faith, failed relationships, the theater, her friends, and hair mishaps.
Audio Specific Review: Kristen read, sang, and giggled her way through reading this! It was fantastic and the way I would suggest getting this book.
Why I gave it a 4.5: It was 7 hours of just plain fun!
Who would I recommend it too: Kristin Chenoweth fans
Actual Rating 4.5 Wine Glasses
What I Loved: Kristin Chenoweth is just such a delightful personality. She has great stories from her life both professionally and personally. I don't feel like she held anything back! She does it with such poise, humor, and a little wink/nudge to her friends. This was like getting a glimpse into what I think is one of the most down-to-earth celebrities there is today. It might be her southern roots but you just feel like she is someone you could sit down, have dinner, and chat about day to day stuff.
What I Liked: Her friends, family, and moments that just made me giggle hysterically! I love that she tackled everything faith, failed relationships, the theater, her friends, and hair mishaps.
Audio Specific Review: Kristen read, sang, and giggled her way through reading this! It was fantastic and the way I would suggest getting this book.
Why I gave it a 4.5: It was 7 hours of just plain fun!
Who would I recommend it too: Kristin Chenoweth fans
May 12, 2015
Kristin Chenoweth is such a spunky, fun-loving, kind, woman. I would like to adopt her as my baby sister!
October 8, 2009
This book was disappointing. She says right at the very end that it's not a "tell all autobiography" but a "little slice autobiography" and I kind of wish she'd said that at the beginning. I love her voice and she seems like a nice lady and all but the book meanders--she'll mention someone in passing and then two chapters later talk about how she met that person. Sometimes she'll start telling something juicy and then stop and you never hear of that again. Overall, this is kind of a big "what is the point of this?" sort of book. She doesn't want to tell too many secrets or too many stories so it's pretty much everything you could have read on a wikipedia page only drawn out over a lot more pages. It's all very surface--no real meat and potatoes.
March 21, 2014
I appreciated the stories from her life and - for the most part - her sense of humour. What I didn't appreciate was how many times she says she loves everyone, yet then said and did things to the contrary. It wouldn't have bothered me so much if she didn't repeatedly talk about how she's a Christian and how she loves everyone. And yet, she said some pretty hateful things toward German people, and she mercilessly ridiculed one flight attendance's physical appearance when she felt the flight attendant was rude to her. She also made several condescending remarks about people who are more liberal or more conservative than she is. Either her attitude got increasingly worse throughout the book, or I was just tired of it by the end.
November 25, 2011
Everyone who knows me knows that Kristin Chenoweth is my all-time favorite actress in the entire world! Everytime something of hers is on, or I find new stuff about her I buy it. So when I heard that she was coming out with an autobiography, it was all I talked about for weeks. Sadly I did not get it for my birthday, or Christmas that year, and I found myself having to read it at the library since I did not have it.
Well I read it and I loved it. I kept getting looks from people in the library because I was start laughing so hard, and then I would be crying at others. This is book IS Kristin Chenoweth through and through. You can clearly hear her voice in your head as you read it, and you can't help but giggle along with her. She talks about being a person, and a celebrity, something she seems to do effortlessly. As a HUGE fan of hers, I thought that it was amazing. To all of those people who thought that this was going to be about Wicked, think again. Kristin is not just Wicked, she is also An Apple Tree, West Wing, Glee, and others. She is very versatile and I think that that is very inspiring. She has done many other creditable things in her lifetime that are just as good as Wicked. I am an HUGE fan of the Original Broadway Cast of Wicked myself, but I also know that they do other movies, tv shows, and musicals. As someone who is also short, 5'2, I liked that she put in that being short is not something that you should be ashamed of, embrace it! Kristin's talent for singing, acting, and now even writing should be praised.
She is my role model, and always will be.
For someone who is so short, who knew that she would have such a big voice in society and the lives of regular people. :)
Well I read it and I loved it. I kept getting looks from people in the library because I was start laughing so hard, and then I would be crying at others. This is book IS Kristin Chenoweth through and through. You can clearly hear her voice in your head as you read it, and you can't help but giggle along with her. She talks about being a person, and a celebrity, something she seems to do effortlessly. As a HUGE fan of hers, I thought that it was amazing. To all of those people who thought that this was going to be about Wicked, think again. Kristin is not just Wicked, she is also An Apple Tree, West Wing, Glee, and others. She is very versatile and I think that that is very inspiring. She has done many other creditable things in her lifetime that are just as good as Wicked. I am an HUGE fan of the Original Broadway Cast of Wicked myself, but I also know that they do other movies, tv shows, and musicals. As someone who is also short, 5'2, I liked that she put in that being short is not something that you should be ashamed of, embrace it! Kristin's talent for singing, acting, and now even writing should be praised.
She is my role model, and always will be.
For someone who is so short, who knew that she would have such a big voice in society and the lives of regular people. :)
May 6, 2014
This book was more than I expected. An honest and heartfelt peek into her life. I liked her before and this book really sealed the deal. Funny, heartwarming, and truthful, this is a look at a star who is perfectly human!
July 15, 2020
I enjoy Kristin Chenoweth in moderation so I liked this book. It was pretty middle of the board for me. There were some stories I just didn't care about and then some that I wanted to hear more about. Her stories about her hair, particularly the one where she basically had to cut it all off, was entertaining and sad at the same time. I loved hearing everything to do with Pushing Daisies and it makes me want to rewatch it again. A show gone too soon. I loved all the stories about Wicked and didn't know a fair amount of what she talks about. From injuring herself early on to all the little funny things that happened on stage. I had no idea she dated Aaron Sorkin! I also didn't know she was on West Wing but I was never an avid watcher of that one. Some of the stories she talks about makes her seem overly peppy and superficial but it didn't bother me.
It's a pretty harmless autobiography that has its entertaining moments. She breaks out into song a few times but it's such a tease that I wish she had sung for longer. I'd recommend this book for those who are fans of Kristin.
It's a pretty harmless autobiography that has its entertaining moments. She breaks out into song a few times but it's such a tease that I wish she had sung for longer. I'd recommend this book for those who are fans of Kristin.
July 20, 2010
I am glad Ms Chenoweth did the reading for her book. (I know, who else would have?) I just read a few negative reviews, and it seems to me people were annoyed that 1) Ms Chenoweth doesn't agree with them the way they thought she would or 2) the book is not about her being in Wicked.
No, the book is not about her being in Wicked. It's about her being Kristin Chenoweth.
The book is, in fact, "disjointed" if your reference point is an encyclopedia article, but we can already get those. I liked hearing Ms Chenoweth's descriptions of her friendships and her work experiences, a few mishaps, some embarrassing missteps, and a bit of what she learned along the way. I was a bit sad for the things she has had to give up to be what and where she is, but we all have to make decisions like that, even if not so momentous in the average life. (Who else has to choose between a prestigious opera fellowship and a role on Broadway?) You can't have it all. Really. You can't. However, if you really think about what you want, you can have a lot, and it can be very different from what your friend wants and has. (Hm. I didn't realize that philosophy of mine was so prominent in the book.)
Anyway, I enjoyed this book. It's bittersweet fluff, has no bad language (in case you want to listen to it in the car with your kids in the back, like I do), and it's performed by Kristin Chenoweth, so if you've liked a character of hers along the way, you may encounter her again in this book.
No, the book is not about her being in Wicked. It's about her being Kristin Chenoweth.
The book is, in fact, "disjointed" if your reference point is an encyclopedia article, but we can already get those. I liked hearing Ms Chenoweth's descriptions of her friendships and her work experiences, a few mishaps, some embarrassing missteps, and a bit of what she learned along the way. I was a bit sad for the things she has had to give up to be what and where she is, but we all have to make decisions like that, even if not so momentous in the average life. (Who else has to choose between a prestigious opera fellowship and a role on Broadway?) You can't have it all. Really. You can't. However, if you really think about what you want, you can have a lot, and it can be very different from what your friend wants and has. (Hm. I didn't realize that philosophy of mine was so prominent in the book.)
Anyway, I enjoyed this book. It's bittersweet fluff, has no bad language (in case you want to listen to it in the car with your kids in the back, like I do), and it's performed by Kristin Chenoweth, so if you've liked a character of hers along the way, you may encounter her again in this book.
March 25, 2016
To quote George Gershin, " 'S wonderful! 'S marvelous!" I would hope this book would be what Gershwin would want to read if he was obviously still alive.
I don't want this book to be just this one. I want this book to be many books. I want it to be a science-fiction novel, a horror novel, a book of jokes, a book of plays, a book of everything that has ever been put into a book. This made me more of a fan of Kristin Chenoweth than I already was, having seen her in "The West Wing" (my favorite TV show ever) and "Pushing Daisies" (my second favorite TV show ever), and she needs to write more.
Her byline says, "Kristin Chenoweth with Joni Rodgers," but I don't believe she had a ghostwriter. I believe Rodgers helped her along, formed the book into what she didn't always have time to concentrate on because of being busy with her career, but she made sure that her indomitable spirit spread through each page. I want all books to be like this one.
I don't want this book to be just this one. I want this book to be many books. I want it to be a science-fiction novel, a horror novel, a book of jokes, a book of plays, a book of everything that has ever been put into a book. This made me more of a fan of Kristin Chenoweth than I already was, having seen her in "The West Wing" (my favorite TV show ever) and "Pushing Daisies" (my second favorite TV show ever), and she needs to write more.
Her byline says, "Kristin Chenoweth with Joni Rodgers," but I don't believe she had a ghostwriter. I believe Rodgers helped her along, formed the book into what she didn't always have time to concentrate on because of being busy with her career, but she made sure that her indomitable spirit spread through each page. I want all books to be like this one.
February 5, 2016
I usually love an audiobook narrated by the author, but even the audio book couldn't save this one. Throughout the story of Kristin's life...she went from being a vocal icon of mine...to just a good voice with a personality that lacks any sort of depth. In the book, she goes through her life, describing lost loves that you start to realize is all because she is so in love with herself (...I can't even say it is that she is in love with her career...but truly is herself).
Less than impressed. I still love her voice, but am less mesmerized with her than I ever thought I could be.
Less than impressed. I still love her voice, but am less mesmerized with her than I ever thought I could be.
June 26, 2013
It was really enlightening to read about a successful actress who so strongly sticks to her roots in faith and family. She holds tight to her beliefs no matter how harshly she is criticized for it. She is also very funny and optimistic, so her book is a light and cheerful read. It was a little confusing to keep track of the details as she jumps around a lot in time. I also wish she had spent a little more time on Wicked. But overall I liked this book and it made me like Kristin even more!
April 17, 2009
A confection of a memoir. I had hoped for more insight, especially into how her beliefs make a difference in her career. Chenoweth skims lightly over the surface of her chosen episodes, and even her pain is depicted with a fairly light touch. The anecdotes are mostly entertaining, but I didn't finish with the feeling I knew her any better.
November 22, 2009
I like Kristin Chenoweth in theory, I admire her talent and enjoy her work, but this book was hard for me to get through.
Even though the writting was mildly entertaining, I found it irritating at times. Maybe it was just some of her views, actions and takes on life, in general.
I was relieved when it was over.
Even though the writting was mildly entertaining, I found it irritating at times. Maybe it was just some of her views, actions and takes on life, in general.
I was relieved when it was over.
March 23, 2012
I really did not know who Kristin Chenoweth was, I never saw West Wing or her in Wicked but her book was very honest, entertaining and written with the tone that I just enjoyed. She is full of faith and grace and I admire that. I'll watch for her now in entertainment and am much more apt to try something that she is a part of.
August 14, 2015
I highly suggest you get the audio book. What better way to hear someone's story, than for them to tell you it themselves?
March 22, 2024
This was absolutely delightful to listen to on audiobook. Kristin sings and laughs in her narration of her book and it was so fun. I love Pushing Daisies and wish she had talked about it a bit more, but I also loved hearing about The West Wing as I have been rewatching it recently. Also prior to listening to this book, I had NO IDEA that she and Aaron Sorkin were a couple for a long time and learning that absolutely blew my mind. I loved the guest chapter he authored and read and hearing about their relationship was really delightful. I also appreciated how Kristin approaches her faith and how much she prioritizes her family and close friends. It’s always nice when a celebrity you love seems to also be a really lovely person in real life and that was the impression I got from this book.
October 29, 2022
I've been a fan of Ms. Chenoweth's for a long time now, but never knew much about her personal life or history, including the "scandals" she describes here. Having read her perspective and general life philosophy, I have even greater respect for her, but that's not the reason for the rating.
I have never known how to properly rate true stories; I suppose it feels too much like putting a star value on someone's life, so I generally base it on the quality of the writing. In this case, the timeline is fuzzy like with all of these personal memoirs, bouncing from here to there -- which I guess is meant to feel conversational and it can work, but is often just a touch confusing in trying to keep track of things.
What really shines through here, though, is Chenoweth's warm personality, making for a cozy read that makes you want to know more (I know I have a few new films, TV shows, and musicals to check into now).
I have never known how to properly rate true stories; I suppose it feels too much like putting a star value on someone's life, so I generally base it on the quality of the writing. In this case, the timeline is fuzzy like with all of these personal memoirs, bouncing from here to there -- which I guess is meant to feel conversational and it can work, but is often just a touch confusing in trying to keep track of things.
What really shines through here, though, is Chenoweth's warm personality, making for a cozy read that makes you want to know more (I know I have a few new films, TV shows, and musicals to check into now).
January 26, 2018
I read this via audiobook, which I would recommend because Chenoweth is a great narrator. The book starts out a bit slow, but overall was an enjoyable read. I’m a singer and performed in theatre growing up, so learning about her background and training and the decisions she made along the way to get her where she is today was really interesting. I mainly picked this up because I wanted to use this title for an “adjective� choice in my ER Madlibs Reading Challenge this year, but I’m glad I read it. 3.5 stars.
June 14, 2010
I usually avoid "co-written" books like the plague. Not to degrade classics like "The Difference Engine" and "Good Omens," but when it comes to biographies that have a co-writer almost all of the ones I've read have this odd, disconnected, "non-voice." Like it was being assembled, not written by a person telling their story. In this case, however, Kristi Dawn Chenoweth's personality seems to be a force that can't be contained or muted, and I commend Joni Rodgers, her co-writer, for managing to hang on for dear life.
This book explodes in your hands, with life and love of music bursting forth. Kristin is happy to not only relive the good and the bad times, she does both with equal relish. Many biographies try to be high energy to make a point about "ways to live a life." This one legitimately tells the story of someone who is still in love with her life. It's inspiring because it doesn't try to be inspiring, it's just enraptured with what it means to be alive.
Kristin manages to cover her life fairly completely, singer, beauty queen, plucky Broadway baby, disease sufferer, Tony winner, television, more broadway, more television, even the occasional movie, all the while relating it back to the pleasant struggle to stay sane in an insane world. She discusses family, faith and friends in equal measure, and seems to have been blessed in each.
Kristin reviews her triumphs and controversies all as part of the same life package, and defies categorization. She responds to a world that's always labeled her with words like "Short," "Powerful," "Christian," "Hollywood," "Funny," "Beautiful,"Controversial" by seeming to say "Yes, and also...." Most biographies seek to uncomplicate someone, and focus on who they really are. This one refuses to do so and revels in the complexity of life. And more power to Kristin Chenoweth for doing it!
This book explodes in your hands, with life and love of music bursting forth. Kristin is happy to not only relive the good and the bad times, she does both with equal relish. Many biographies try to be high energy to make a point about "ways to live a life." This one legitimately tells the story of someone who is still in love with her life. It's inspiring because it doesn't try to be inspiring, it's just enraptured with what it means to be alive.
Kristin manages to cover her life fairly completely, singer, beauty queen, plucky Broadway baby, disease sufferer, Tony winner, television, more broadway, more television, even the occasional movie, all the while relating it back to the pleasant struggle to stay sane in an insane world. She discusses family, faith and friends in equal measure, and seems to have been blessed in each.
Kristin reviews her triumphs and controversies all as part of the same life package, and defies categorization. She responds to a world that's always labeled her with words like "Short," "Powerful," "Christian," "Hollywood," "Funny," "Beautiful,"Controversial" by seeming to say "Yes, and also...." Most biographies seek to uncomplicate someone, and focus on who they really are. This one refuses to do so and revels in the complexity of life. And more power to Kristin Chenoweth for doing it!
March 11, 2016
- jacket description:
You might know her as a Tony Award-winning Broadway star, who originated the role of Galinda the Good Witch in the smash musical Wicked and won a Tony for 1999's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Or you may recognize her from her starring roles on TV -- The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, Sesame Street...oh, and her Huge Hit Sitcom Kristin on NBC. (Huge hit. L.A. breast-implant huge. Ask either of the people who watched it.) Or maybe you saw her sexy spread in FHM magazine? Or her appearance on Pat Robertson's The 700 Club? Kristin is a wonderful collection of contradictions -- but everyone who's ever met her remembers her as the little girl with the big voice. At four foot eleven, Kristin Chenoweth is an immense talent in a petite but powerful package.
In this lively, laugh-out-loud book, Kristin shares her journey from Oklahoma beauty queen to Broadway leading lady, reflecting on how faith and family have kept her grounded in the dysfunctional rodeo of show biz. The daughter of an engineer and a nurse, Kristin was singing in front of thousands at Baptist conventions by age twelve and winning beauty pageants by age twenty-two. (Well, actually she was second runner-up almost every freaking time. But, hey, she's not bitter.) On her way to a career as a professional opera singer, she stopped in New York to visit a friend and went on a whim to an audition. Through a combination of talent, hard work, and (she's quick to add) the grace of God, Kristin took Broadway by storm. But of course, into every storm, the occasional drizzle of disaster must fall.
Filled with wit, wisdom, and backstage insight, A Little
Bit Wicked is long on love and short on sleep; it's essential reading for Kristin's legions of fans and an uplifting story for anyone seeking motivation to follow his or her dreams -- over the rainbow and beyond.
You might know her as a Tony Award-winning Broadway star, who originated the role of Galinda the Good Witch in the smash musical Wicked and won a Tony for 1999's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Or you may recognize her from her starring roles on TV -- The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, Sesame Street...oh, and her Huge Hit Sitcom Kristin on NBC. (Huge hit. L.A. breast-implant huge. Ask either of the people who watched it.) Or maybe you saw her sexy spread in FHM magazine? Or her appearance on Pat Robertson's The 700 Club? Kristin is a wonderful collection of contradictions -- but everyone who's ever met her remembers her as the little girl with the big voice. At four foot eleven, Kristin Chenoweth is an immense talent in a petite but powerful package.
In this lively, laugh-out-loud book, Kristin shares her journey from Oklahoma beauty queen to Broadway leading lady, reflecting on how faith and family have kept her grounded in the dysfunctional rodeo of show biz. The daughter of an engineer and a nurse, Kristin was singing in front of thousands at Baptist conventions by age twelve and winning beauty pageants by age twenty-two. (Well, actually she was second runner-up almost every freaking time. But, hey, she's not bitter.) On her way to a career as a professional opera singer, she stopped in New York to visit a friend and went on a whim to an audition. Through a combination of talent, hard work, and (she's quick to add) the grace of God, Kristin took Broadway by storm. But of course, into every storm, the occasional drizzle of disaster must fall.
Filled with wit, wisdom, and backstage insight, A Little
Bit Wicked is long on love and short on sleep; it's essential reading for Kristin's legions of fans and an uplifting story for anyone seeking motivation to follow his or her dreams -- over the rainbow and beyond.
June 7, 2011
I listened to A Little Bit Wicked a while ago, so I don't remember much of the story.
I do know that Kristin is a great narrator. She made me laugh when I really didn't think I would. Hearing her giggle always made me grin.
One of favorite parts was listening to her talking about her weave drama. You don't mess around with hair!
And her beauty queen drama was funny. Every time she mentioned the HUGE, HUGE show named Kristin, I smiled. Any other time something like that would have annoyed me but she made me like it, it was so funny. I found myself anticipating it and was even disappointed when she didn't do it as often as I would like. On the other hand, every time she mentioned Pushing Daisies I got sad, knowing that it was no longer on the air. She really did enjoy that show!
I actually really like the Denny parts. It was unexpected!
To be honest, before listening to this book, I never knew who she was. Then, after I finished it, I kept seeing her everywhere!
Not that it matters to her (or I guess anyone at all) but I can't say that I really buy her reasons for leaving Wicked. Really, I know nothing about the show but the reasons just reeked of “lame excuse� to me. You know, it just sounded like someone trying not to be the bad guy � when they really are! But don't take my word for it. It's her book and she more than likely was speaking 100% truth but you've got to wonder...
I seriously think she should have cut an album for the “buffet� song. I rewound it a few times because I liked the way she sang it. For those who haven't listened to the book, it was one sentence! But dang it, I really did want to try the buffet.
All in all a good book to listen to. It's surprisingly really clean. It doesn't get too deep so you won't have to be super devoted to trying to keep storylines straight. It's also fairly clean, which I didn't expect.
I do know that Kristin is a great narrator. She made me laugh when I really didn't think I would. Hearing her giggle always made me grin.
One of favorite parts was listening to her talking about her weave drama. You don't mess around with hair!
And her beauty queen drama was funny. Every time she mentioned the HUGE, HUGE show named Kristin, I smiled. Any other time something like that would have annoyed me but she made me like it, it was so funny. I found myself anticipating it and was even disappointed when she didn't do it as often as I would like. On the other hand, every time she mentioned Pushing Daisies I got sad, knowing that it was no longer on the air. She really did enjoy that show!
I actually really like the Denny parts. It was unexpected!
To be honest, before listening to this book, I never knew who she was. Then, after I finished it, I kept seeing her everywhere!
Not that it matters to her (or I guess anyone at all) but I can't say that I really buy her reasons for leaving Wicked. Really, I know nothing about the show but the reasons just reeked of “lame excuse� to me. You know, it just sounded like someone trying not to be the bad guy � when they really are! But don't take my word for it. It's her book and she more than likely was speaking 100% truth but you've got to wonder...
I seriously think she should have cut an album for the “buffet� song. I rewound it a few times because I liked the way she sang it. For those who haven't listened to the book, it was one sentence! But dang it, I really did want to try the buffet.
All in all a good book to listen to. It's surprisingly really clean. It doesn't get too deep so you won't have to be super devoted to trying to keep storylines straight. It's also fairly clean, which I didn't expect.
April 27, 2009
I'm a fan of this Broadway/TV/movie actress who originated the part of Glinda in Wicked. I've never seen her in an interview (maybe I'll try to find some on the internet) but from her book I imagine that she's a whirlwind. Crowned Miss Congeniality at the Miss Oklahoma beauty pageant, accused of being so freaking happy all the time, she's spunky, definitely intelligent, educated...and—I'm sure—charming and delightful...and exhausting. No, just kidding. It took me a while to get used to her style...Lots of sound effects (ex: Eeeek, kerbingo! Fwaugh fwaugh, hummana-hummana). At first she was all over the place and being funny, but in the second half was deeper and more meaningful.
She starts (after a prologue) at an airport, having a hard time with security and a crabby stewardess. I really wasn't interested in this part which I guess was included to show that she has a hard time flying just like everyone else. Ok. Once she started telling her real story, it was mainly good. But why did she spend more time on her hair problems then on her Meniere's disease (an inner-ear problem that causes vertigo)? Because the hair mishap was hilarious, yes, and well, there's nothing funny about vertigo? Still, I was curious to know more about how it effects her life and work.
My favorite parts were the chapter that told a lot about Wicked; her questions for God when she meets him; a fairy tale called the Princess and the Bogsnart; and when she nurses her mom through cancer. She won me over here, how she just dropped everything and went to her mom for two months. You rock, Kristin.
She starts (after a prologue) at an airport, having a hard time with security and a crabby stewardess. I really wasn't interested in this part which I guess was included to show that she has a hard time flying just like everyone else. Ok. Once she started telling her real story, it was mainly good. But why did she spend more time on her hair problems then on her Meniere's disease (an inner-ear problem that causes vertigo)? Because the hair mishap was hilarious, yes, and well, there's nothing funny about vertigo? Still, I was curious to know more about how it effects her life and work.
My favorite parts were the chapter that told a lot about Wicked; her questions for God when she meets him; a fairy tale called the Princess and the Bogsnart; and when she nurses her mom through cancer. She won me over here, how she just dropped everything and went to her mom for two months. You rock, Kristin.
February 22, 2018
I haven't read many celebrity memoirs, and I'm not really familiar with Kristin Chenoweth's TV shows, movies, or singing. I was intrigued by an interview with her I read in a gay magazine and by her self-description as a liberal Christian. The memoir, which is co-written with Joni Rodgers, is breezy and funny. Chenoweth is self-deprecating and relentlessly optimistic, along the lines of "when God closes a door He opens a window."
Towards the end it is too full of name-dropping about various costars and people in show business, all of whom she loves loves loves. The most interesting chapter for me was chapter 15, which retells the brouhaha that ensued in the gay community when she appeared on the 700 Club and in the Christian community (the Women of Faith series fired her after one appearance) after she acknowledged that her best friend is gay and she was going to play a gay woman in an upcoming movie. She's not your typical Southern Baptist: puts out a hymn-singing CD and then poses nude in Allure magazine.
Simon & Schuster must have rushed the publishing, because there are several typos and copyediting errors that someone should have caught.
Towards the end it is too full of name-dropping about various costars and people in show business, all of whom she loves loves loves. The most interesting chapter for me was chapter 15, which retells the brouhaha that ensued in the gay community when she appeared on the 700 Club and in the Christian community (the Women of Faith series fired her after one appearance) after she acknowledged that her best friend is gay and she was going to play a gay woman in an upcoming movie. She's not your typical Southern Baptist: puts out a hymn-singing CD and then poses nude in Allure magazine.
Simon & Schuster must have rushed the publishing, because there are several typos and copyediting errors that someone should have caught.
August 23, 2012
This was a very witty and charming book, I only knew kristin from Pushing Daisies and Four Christmases , and I loved her in those programs/movies. Kristin has a real way with words, and I spent many moments gigglng away to this audiobook.Kristin is an all round entertainer and I did not know that before this book. Growing up she enjoyed ballet and entering pagents, later more types of dance and singing and acting. Broodway was calling to her from a young age and it seemed to be obvious to those closest to her that she was going to do great things in life. Kristin's huge sparkly personality shines through this book and her friends and family mean a huge amount to her that is obvious from the beginning. There is mention of her adopted mother and the little she knew of her and how thankful she was to her. I was very touched by that. I think her birth mother if she read this book would find comfort in that. All in all def a book worth reading. Even more so if you are intersted in following some of the same lines of work as Kristin as she gives advice and tells of her experiences in showbiz.
September 27, 2010
I breezed through this light autobiography in about one day sitting on the beach. I'd recommend Kristin Chenowith's musings for a very specific population - people who love Broadway, Aaron Sorkin, Pushing Daisies and the South. If that describes you (as it does me), you might want to curl up with this book.
More of a collection of thoughts than a serious autobiography, this book touches on both the successes and the challenges Chenowith faced as she broke into show business. She's surprisingly forthcoming about sensitive topics like her adoption as an infant, her struggles with chronic illness and her on-again, off-again relationship with writer Aaron Sorkin (who is given his own space in the book to share his point of view on that love story). Chenowith also shares some of the most intelligent musings on faith in the modern world that I've recently read, talking opening about balancing her very Christian beliefs with her journey in an industry rarely centered around faith.
More of a collection of thoughts than a serious autobiography, this book touches on both the successes and the challenges Chenowith faced as she broke into show business. She's surprisingly forthcoming about sensitive topics like her adoption as an infant, her struggles with chronic illness and her on-again, off-again relationship with writer Aaron Sorkin (who is given his own space in the book to share his point of view on that love story). Chenowith also shares some of the most intelligent musings on faith in the modern world that I've recently read, talking opening about balancing her very Christian beliefs with her journey in an industry rarely centered around faith.
October 21, 2016
As a fan of Kristin I absolutely loved it. The book looks back on her life, her career, her journey as a struggling actor in New York fresh out of college in Oklahoma, her days in Wicked, and wise words and advice for young actors from "Cool Aunt Kristin." It was incredibly interesting to me to understand where she came from and what she went through to become the star that she is. She has a good old-fashioned "small town girl moves to New York City, lives in a tiny apartment and ACTUALLY MAKES IT" story and she has clearly worked hard for her success. The book is, of course, full of Kristin's voice and quirky, outgoing personality, including comments about her "singing, weather-predicting cooter" and a few recipes and photos. This is what makes it so good. If you are a fan of Kristin, you will adore this book, and you will adore her more after reading it. It's funny and has a lot of heart.
April 25, 2010
Olive Snook was and remains my favorite TV character which is why I wanted to grab Kristin's biography. I knew Kristin was a broadway babe who'd played Galinda and who could sing her tiny heart out--but I was interested in learning more about this spunky actress. Unfortunately, from my perspective, this biography fell a little flat. I loved page 160-238--the end basically, but I struggled with the out of order story telling. Something in me craves the chronological. There wasn't enough back story and side characters--no movie set talking, not much about relationships with other actors or singers. I know that there is more substance there. There were admitedly a few laugh out loud moments, but overall the flow just wasn't quite right.
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