Stage and screen star Kristin Chenoweth is currently appearing on Broadway in “Promises, Promises,” a musical that happens to boast a song titled “She Likes Basketball.” Chenoweth’s character in the show, Fran Kubelik, is a big hoops fan.
And so, it turns out, is the actress herself.
“I love basketball,” the Oklahoma native and Oklahoma City University graduate recently told Thunderland by email. “So finally a hometown girl has a team to root for!”
Despite her 4-foot-11 frame, Chenoweth has stature as one of the Thunder’s most high-profile fans. She recently praised the team in an interview with ESPN. On Twitter, she routinely waxes on her beloved team under the moniker @KChenoweth. Last April, she appeared as a guest on Ellen DeGeneres’ TV talk show, where she made it a point to sport a Kevin Durant Thunder jersey.
“Gotta give my team the props,” she explained. “I love Kevin. He's a great leader and, let's face it, a star. But remember it takes all the genius players to make a team. And that's what they are -- a great team!”
She knows a thing or two about talent. Chenoweth has been wowing audiences since the late 1990s, when she burst onto the Broadway scene with a Tony Award for “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Since then, the celebrated singer/actress has scaled the heights of entertainment. Her successes have ranged from the hit stage musical “Wicked” to roles on TV’s “The West Wing” and “Pushing Daisies.”
Because of Chenoweth’s considerable showbiz connections, she admits the first round of this year’s NBA Playoffs posed a slight dilemma when the Thunder faced the Los Angeles Lakers.
“In my book, Number 1 is Thunder. Number 2 is Lakers,” she said. “I like the Lakers … but they better watch out! OKC is a young team, but it’s been most interesting watching the Thunder shock everyone this year with their being the underdogs! They're an awesome team!”
Moreover, she said she is excited about what the Thunder has meant in terms of casting a larger spotlight on Oklahoma’s capital city.
“I think it’s excellent that Oklahoma City has its own pro team,” she said. “It gives visitors in for out-of-town games an opportunity to see all the great things OKC has to offer -- great food, good places to hang out downtown, cultural arts, opera, et cetera. I'm a very proud native, as you can see.”
While Chenoweth hasn’t had an opportunity to see the Thunder in person yet, she is eager to do so. “I watch them on TV every chance I get, or TiVo,” she said. “Most of the time, I have to find out the score before I watch. I'm impatient.”
So when she finally is able to attend a home game, can Thunder fans perhaps look forward to the diminutive soprano performing, say, the national anthem?
“I have sung the national anthem all over the country,” she said. “I recently did it for the Yankees’ Opening Day.
“So do you think I'd sing at a THUNDER game? My hometown boys? YES!!!”
Thunder enthusiasts of all walks of life – even those who can’t carry a note – can sing Thunder praises at THUNDERALLY, an online interactive fan community.Phil Bacharach is the Director of Corporate Communications for the Thunder. He is looking for die-hard Thunder fans throughout the world. If you or somebody you know bleeds Thunder blue, contact Phil by clicking here