Idina Menzel is an American pop vocalist and songwriter who has become widely known for both her music and her appearances on television and Broadway. Born in New York, Menzel started her singing career by taking lowly wedding and bar mitzvah jobs as a teenager. After earning a Drama degree at NYU however, she jumped headfirst into the city's vibrant theater scene. She defined the character of Maureen Johnson in an original cast performance of Rent, which won her a Tony award nomination. Menzel's theatrical, booming vocals have transferred well to the pop world, where songs such as "Defying Gravity" (from a Broadway performance of Wicked) have earned her decent amounts of widespread popularity. She can currently be seen regularly reprising a role as a rival coach on the hit FOX television show, Glee.
