Kristin Chenoweth Once Dated a Gay Man — And This Is How She Knew

When it comes to Emmy-winning, Theater icon Kristin Chenoweth's latest role in Schmigadoon!, it looks like art is imitating life!

The beloved Broadway and screen actress may be a huge and passionate LGBTQ+ ally in real life, but on the set of AppleTV+'s newest musical comedy series, she plays Mildred Layton, the homophobic wife of closeted preacher Reverend Howard Layton, hilariously played by Fred Armisen. But Mildred isn't the only woman who has, unbeknownst to her, been with a gay man. In fact, it turns out Kristin has some experience in that department as well...

During a recent interview with Los Angeles Magazine's The Originals podcast, the 53-year-old Oklahoma native opened up about her love life, her background as a pageant girl, and a whole lot of other topics pertaining to her long-running and iconic career, the likes of which included whether or not (like her Schmigadoon! character) she's ever found herself dating a gay man.

"In Schmigadoon!, your character, Mildred Layton, is married to Fred Armisen's closeted Reverend Layton. Did you ever find yourself accidentally dating a gay man?" Kristin was asked by LA Mag's Andrew Goldman.

"Only once," she replied. But how did she end up finding out he was gay, you ask? The answer was simple: designer shoes.

"He recognized my Louboutins," she replied, revealing that the unidentified man's eye for expensive red bottoms gave her the "insight" she needed about his sexuality. "When you're dating a man and he knows the brand of your shoes, immediately break up with him and become best friends. You know, I love my gays. I just don't want to marry one. That's all."

This isn't the first time Kristin has opened up about being with gay men, though. During a 2012 appearance on Watch What Happens Live, host Andy Cohen asked the Wicked star a similar question about her dating history when it comes to gay men, and she had a similar, revealing response.

"Have you ever hooked up with a gay guy?" Cohen asked.

"Define hooked up," she replied coyly, before saying, "Mmmhmmm, but he didn't know he was gay!"

She continued: "It was my high school boyfriend. I should have known when he didn't want me to touch his hair!"

See Kristin in action on AppleTV+'s latest original musical series, Schmigadoon!

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