Kristin Chenoweth

It’s not easy pinning Kristin Chenoweth down.

The 47-year-old singer-actress is best-known for her Broadway career, beginning with 1997’s “Steel Pier” and continuing with “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” for which she won the Tony Award, and originating the role of Glinda opposite Idina Menzel in “Wicked,” among many others.

On television, she earned an Emmy for her role as Olive Snook in “Pushing Daisies,” and starred in shows including “The West Wing,” “GCB” and “Glee.”

Her film work includes “Bewitched,” “The Pink Panther,” “Four Christmases” and “You Again,” and her recording and concert career has included Broadway, country and hymns.

She agreed to answer a few questions in advance of her Alys Stephens Center concert Sunday (Tony Awards night, appropriately). She promises a little bit of everything in the concert, talks a little “Wicked,” and gives thanks to the Birmingham actor who helped her through her Broadway debut.

Alabama NewsCenter: What can we expect from your show in Birmingham? Your musical work is so eclectic, from hymns to country to pop-rock to Broadway. Will it be a mix of all of that?

Kristin Chenoweth: You are going to hear it all! And it’s on the night of our dear Tony Awards, so I shall keep the audience updated and pretend it’s the Super Bowl.

ANC: Speaking of eclectic, we see you on Broadway, then on TV, then in film. Do you have a favorite? Do you like switching from one to another?

KC: I love anytime I can be in front of an audience. Sometimes that’s a camera crew, sometimes it is a tiny lens and sometimes it’s an audience of thousands. I feel lucky to be an artist. I am constantly inspired by other artists, too, and what they bring. Such as Lady Gaga. That girl can sing!  SIA is another one. Amazing!

ANC: You have several different fan bases, it seems. Do you find sometimes that people who know you from film and TV don’t know you can sing?

KC: Fans do come up to me and I never know what they’ll know me from. Unless they are under 12. Then it’s “The Descendants,” which I did for The Disney Channel and I love it! “Wicked,” “West Wing,” “Glee,” “GCB,” “Pushing Daises,” Broadway, talk shows, a movie, who cares? As long as they know me from something! Haha.

ANC: Do you ever tire of singing the songs from “Wicked”? Did you realize early on that you might be “stuck” with them for the rest of your career?

KC: Yes, I’m stuck with songs from all of Broadway. I can’t think of a better way to be remembered and I will never get tired of the songs. Any of them. I might look for different ways to sing them!

ANC: Any thoughts of ever revisiting “Wicked”? Maybe a concert performance or something like that?

KC: I’m a little bit too old for for Glinda at this point. Maybe if they do a “Wicked” 13 years later “what are they doing now?” reunion. Haha.

ANC: You recently reunited with you “Wicked” co-star Idina Menzel to sing “For Good.” Is it hard to believe it has been 12 years since you sang with her? How was the experience?

KC: It was fun!  It is hard to believe but at the same time felt like no time passed at all.

ANC: You’ve been in two memorable TV series, “Pushing Daisies” and “GCB,” that really didn’t take off ratings-wise but still to this day have a pretty rabid fan base. Do you enjoy bumping into fans of those two shows? Do you have fond memories of the series?

KC: Winning the Emmy for “Pushing Daisies” was the highlight of my career. I will never understand what makes a big hit. I will say I’m honored to have been a part of some of the most respected shows in TV history.

ANC: You made your Broadway debut in “Steel Pier” with an actor from Birmingham, Jim Newman. Any thoughts about working with him?

KC: He actually held my hand through the whole experience. I had a crush on him and he took care of me. He knew it was my Broadway debut in a musical. I cried when we closed not long after the Tonys that year. He said, “Don’t worry, you have many more Broadway shows in you.”

ANC: Rebecca Luker is also from Birmingham. Have you ever worked with her?

KC: Well, she was an idol of mine growing up. There wasn’t a soprano alive that didn’t want her voice in the show “Secret Garden.” I still look up to her and admire her. She is one of those that will go down as one of our greatest sopranos ever.

ANC: Is this Birmingham performance part of a tour you’ve put together?

KC: I’m in the middle of a tour and recording an album and moving. I’m exhausted but happy. Except for the moving part. I hate moving.

ANC: What’s next? Any idea?

KC: I am working on a couple of TV projects and some other exciting things that will be announced soon in another area. So I will await that, but it’s always going to be about music for me. It’s in my DNA.

The 2016 Viva Health Starlight Gala starring Kristin Chenoweth; Alys Stephens Center, June 12 at 6 p.m.; tickets, which include a cocktail reception or dinner, start at $150. 205-975-4012.