Hands on a Hardbody Showstopper Keala Settle Popped the Champagne on Nomination Morning

The morning the Tony nominations are announced, phones start buzzing with texts and calls for the happy few who get nods. As usual, Broadway.com is thrilled to be among the callers offering congratulations and getting responses. Here are the first reactions from 2013 Tony nominees. Congrats to all!

Keala Settle
Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, Hands on a Hardbody

“Lord, I feel like I’m eight years old and Santa got me everything I asked for on my list! 8:30 was not the time I planned on getting up, but I got a phone call from my agent and she was like, ‘Is that my Tony nominee?’ Not even a second went by, and then my friends in the apartment came running past my door—we popped the champagne at 9 AM! This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience: I’ll never be nominated for a Tony Award for the first time in my life again. This is incredible. When I found out Keith Carradine also got nominated, I hit the wall. I couldn’t believe it! To be recognized for our hard work? It’s the best gift I could’ve received. It’s incredible. And my God, I’m in the same category with Andrea friggin’ Martin. Hello? She is a comic genius! Duh! I couldn’t believe it. Man, it’s incredible!”

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