Kristin Chenoweth, 55, MARRIES Josh Bryant, 41, at romantic Texas ceremony with ‘form of traditional vows’… ‘but I’m not saying “obey!”‘
Broadway icon Kristin Chenoweth, 55, married her country musician fiancé Josh Bryant, 41, nearly two years after their engagement.
The couple married at a private home in Dallas in a romantic ceremony with a star-studded guest list that included David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Kathy Najimy, and High School Musical director Kenny Ortega.
Known for her love of the color pink, Kristin opted for a nude pink Pamela Rolland wedding dress that she described as “Simple and elegant.”
She explained that she ‘didn’t want to wear white’ People: ‘I never thought I would get married, so I went very unconventionally with the dress. I love it.’
Josh and Kristin, both devout Christians, exchanged “some form of traditional vows.” “But I’m not saying, ‘Obey!'” laughed the bride.
Tie up: Broadway icon Kristin Chenoweth, 55, married her country musician fiancé Josh Bryant, 41, nearly two years after their engagement
Hot couple: Kristin, who is known for her love of the color pink, opted for a nude-pink wedding dress by Pamela Rolland; the couple is pictured at a gala in New York in 2021
She accepted his proposal in October 2021 after he presented her with a diamond Halo ring in Rockefeller Center’s iconic Rainbow Room.
Kristin was previously engaged to fellow Broadway actor Marc Kudisch from 1998 to 2001, two years before she reached new heights of fame in Wicked.
After they broke off their engagement, Kristin dated several showbiz names, including Seth Green and Aaron Sorkin.
Josh Bryant, the guitarist of a country band called Backroad Anthem, was first associated with Kristin in the media in 2018.
When she accepted his proposal, she told Vogue, “I’ve been the runaway bride. Now that I’ve found him, I won’t let him go. I’ll run fast to greet him at the altar.’
Now, after their wedding, she confessed, “I’ve been a self-proclaimed bachelorette all my life. I would never get married.’
She recalled, “I was even engaged before, but it didn’t work out. Until I met Josh. Then I thought, “Why would I ever let this man go?” I’m so blessed.’
Their rehearsal dinner, held at Tony restaurant The Capital Grille in Dallas, featured a custom cake sourced from Baskin-Robbins.
Throwback: Josh Bryant, the guitarist of a country band called Backroad Anthem, was first associated with Kristin in the media in 2018; the couple was pictured last year
Next came their daytime Saturday wedding with a heavy pink theme, which was performed by a personal friend of the couple.
The nuptials played host to a 140-man guest list, including LGBT activist Chely Wright, Broadway composer Andrew Lippa, and Glee alum Jennifer Aspen.
Kristin and Josh’s loved ones arrived to the soft accompaniment of a string quartet playing from a balcony – after which the tenor of the music changed dramatically.
The AC/DC classic Thunderstruck started playing as Thunder, the couple’s dog and ring bearer, made his entrance, kicking off the ceremony.
Then the bride’s friends and fellow stage actresses Marissa Rosen, Crystal Monee Hall, Nikki Kimbrough and Melinda Doolittle took the cue to begin.
As a quartet they sang the Celine Dion-Andrea Bocelli classic The Prayer, specially arranged for this wedding by Kristin’s musical director Mary-Mitchell Campbell.
That musical selection was a tip of the veil of the couple’s Christianity — a touch that Kristin noted was “very important to us.”
The ceremony took place in a largely pink setting, of which the groom dryly remarked, “Without even having to ask Kristin, I knew the theme would probably be pink-oriented in some way.”
Origin Story: Though they became an item in 2018, Kristin met Josh two years earlier when Backroad played Anthem at her niece’s wedding; on the photo in 2021
Before the wedding, Kristin explained, “On that day, I want to look and feel like Kristin, and I want Josh to see the girl he’s been with for five years. I’m going to look glamorous and all, but my hair won’t be stellar even though we’re in Texas. It’s going to look like me.’
But the groom chuckled affectionately, “Don’t be fooled. Normal for Kristin is about 110%,” referring to the extravagant personality her fans know and love.
After the ceremony, they got their friends Ty Herndon and Toby Freeman to sing I Can’t Help Falling In Love for the newlyweds’ first dance.
Before the wedding, Josh revealed that the couple, who come from the music world and have many friends there, would have “a little jam session” at the reception.
“We’re going to have a DJ and stuff,” he clarified, “but I just wanted to have a time where instruments are set up and where all our friends, if we just want to go there, and play for a while.” Not just some jammy thing.’
The partygoers enjoyed a “southern comfort” dinner with menu items like tenderloin and fried pickles, washed down with themed cocktails like a “Wicked Margarita,” a “Thundertini,” and a “Bryant Old Fashioned.”
While the wedding cake itself was lavish — a five-tiered Mexican vanilla bean affair — the late-night munchies provided afterward included Kristin’s homey treats, 7-Eleven Slurpees, and Dunkin Donuts.
Though they became an item in 2018, Kristin met Josh two years earlier when Backroad played Anthem at her niece’s wedding.
So sweet: The AC/DC classic Thunderstruck started playing when the couple’s dog and ring bearer Thunder made his entrance; the duo are pictured with Thunder in May
Two years later, Backroad Anthem played her cousin’s wedding, enabling the burgeoning chemistry. which grew into a romance.
“We had become friends by then, and then he came on strong. Josh asked me where I was going to play next, and it was North Carolina,” she fondly recalled. “I said, ‘I’m busy. I don’t have time, da, da, da.” And he comes to the concert and that was it for me.’
Kristin reflected that they just happened to end their relationship at “the right time.” God knew what he was doing with that. Josh is 14 years younger than me, and I thought that was ridiculous. I will never do that in my life. But he made me feel very confident, beautiful and loved at any age.”
Their bond grew even stronger after Kristin “fell apart” following the death of one of her best friends, whom she lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“And when you go through these things in life with someone and they show up for you in the biggest way, you can’t buy that. He’s my rock,” she said.
“When we first met, I knew there was something special,” said Josh. ‘I always come back to that. If you just have that feeling when you see someone for the first time.’