Kristin Chenoweth to Release a Country Album

Kristin Chenoweth has portrayed plenty of musical characters onstage, including the starring role of Glinda in the Tony-winning Broadway musical, 'Wicked.' While the actress and singer has sung a wide variety of tunes, she reveals her hidden passion is country music, which she'll include on her upcoming album, 'Some Lessons Learned.'

"I can't wait for people to hear it," Kristin tells Playbill of the CD, recorded in Nashville. "I feel like people know of all kinds of styles I do, but this is going to be incredibly special for me to finally get to do the one that I said, 'Look, if you sign me, please just agree to do this one thing.' I can't wait for people to hear it, whatever happens."

The singer, who is releasing the album on Sony's Masterworks label, says she has been working on the concept of mixing country and pop tunes for a long time. "[It] was actually an idea I had many years ago when I signed with my record label," reveals the 42-year-old. "I had it in my contract that we would do one. It's an idea that I had when I was growing up -- I just always wanted to do it, so I'm glad I finally got the opportunity. It's more how I sang growing up ... I'm really excited by it."

The new CD features almost all new songs, including five tunes penned by hit tunesmith Diane Warren. "I've written some of my best songs ever for it," Diane tells One Country (quote via MSN.com). "She is from Oklahoma, and this is really who she is."

The first single from the album, 'Bitch About,' will be released on June 6, and includes a brand-new video, as well. "First time I've ever gotten to do a music video, which is kind of cool," Kristin enthuses.

Not that Kristin is giving up her acting career anytime soon. The mid-western native, whose lengthy list of acting credits includes the TV series, 'Pushing Daisies' and a supporting role in the blockbuster film, 'Running With Scissors,' is planning to return to the Broadway stage for not one, but two new plays.

"I'm involved in a reading of a show that I'm very interested in doing about Tammy Faye Baker," she reveals. "We're going to revive 'On the Twentieth Century,' and I'm going to know a lot more, in about two weeks, about when that will be! Everybody knows how I feel about Broadway and how much I love it, and I'm lucky that I get to consider what kinds of things that I would like to do."

'Some Lessons Learned' will hit shelves September 13.