Prince threw Kristin Chenoweth an impromptu concert after she lost out on winning an Emmy.
The actor, who rose to fame in the original Broadway production of Wicked, briefly dated the music legend, and has now revealed the kind words Prince shared with her during an appearance on Kelly Ripa's podcast Let's Talk Off Camera.
Chenoweth revealed they had been on a date previously at his home, where Prince made her watch her performance in the Leonard Bernstein opera Candide, telling her: "you inspire me." Prince also said "what you do with your voice, I do with my guitar."
Prince also offered to write her a song so she could start a solo career, but she turned him down and the pair stayed in touch. Chenoweth heard from him again after losing an Emmy when Prince invited her over once more.
"This is a true story," she began as she revealed the incredible anecdote, "'I want to give a concert tonight in honor of you and your work and what you've put in the world. Come over, invite anybody you want to.'"
Chenoweth then reached out to as many people as she could, even the actor Mary-Louise Parker, whom she did not know well. Around 50 people turned and Prince performed for three hours.
According to the star Prince then took her aside and told her: "You know I think you're beautiful and I love you. I love you in all the best ways. Not, 'oh I love you I got to have you because I would love to date you that first date was so fun... But I want you to remember no matter where you go, who you are, and what you're worth'."
Chenoweth added, "and from that point on, Prince [always] checked in with me" and said of her experience with the musician, "I'll never forget it."
Ripa then asked if Chenoweth ever considered actually dating Prince, but the Sunset Boulevard star said she "had trouble getting over the fact he was Prince."
"To me he was very formidable in my years growing up... but boy was he a great mentor," Chenoweth said and revealed she still got emotional thinking about his passing in 2016.
"I think there are some people that have walked this planet that should still be here."
She also opened up about the "Purple Rain" singer in the months after his death and described how they connected in "special moments" because they "were both a lover of God and a lover of truth and music," she told ABC News in 2016.
"Certainly losing Michael Jackson, who's the King of Pop was a tough one, but this is the King of Funk and what he could do with his left hand, I believe, is unmatched and I got to see it up close and personal," Chenoweth said. "He gave me a gift by just saying I really like what you do, I like your skill. It was special."
English (US) ·