Kristin Chenoweth Comes 'Home' to Glee

After last week’s edgy Madonna-centric episode, who'da-thought that deep down almost every character on Glee is a big ole’ softy! The latest episode, “Home,” delves into the teens’ home lives and insecurities before teaching everyone some valuable issues about family and self-esteem. “Home” also marks the Glee return of Broadway powerhouse Kristin Chenoweth (who’s currently swingin’ away in the Broadway revival of Promises, Promises) as Will’s former flame April Rhodes. Check out our favorite moments below!

Surprise New Friendship:
After witnessing Mercedes struggle with her eating habits in order to shed enough pounds to fit into the standard Cheerios uniform, Quinn steps in to offer some support. Looks like the days of evil/back-stabbing/cheating/mean girl Quinn are finally over, as the expectant mother tells Mercedes how carrying a child has made her realize the importance of eating healthy and feeling good about yourself.

Oprah In Training:
Mercedes decides to spread Quinn’s message of self-empowerment to the rest of McKinley High by tearing into a rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” at an all-school assembly. (Too bad the move works in Sue’s favor, as a cheerleading magazine reporter mistakes the performance as an act of kindness and leadership from the militaristic coach.)

Best Fashion Upgrade:
Finn’s mom Carole starts the episode by denying the atrociousness of acid washed jeans, but when she and Kurt’s dad, Burt, start dating, the always fashionable Kurt makes it his prerogative to upgrade Carol to jeans with a “waistband fall[ing] way below the belly button.”

Be Careful What You Wish For:
Kurt, the matchmaker behind Carol and Burt’s newfound romance (and you can guess why—to get closer to his not-so-secret crush, Finn) sees his plan backfire when Finn takes his anger at the budding relationship out on...Kurt. To make matters worse, Kurt feels left out when his dad and Finn begin to bond. Luckily, the parents are willing to discuss their feelings, making it clear that this plotline is far from over.

Favorite Cheno Moment:
Kristin Chenoweth comes storming back to McKinley equipped with April's bedazzled microphones, ownership of a roller-rink (courtesy of her new fling), and a bag full of zingers (“I’m full time fancy now!” the former house-squatter says of her new digs.) While April’s always a blast cracking jokes and boozin’ it up, Chenoweth shines in her heartbreaking duet with Mr. Schuester on “One Less Bell to Answer,” a lament for their lost loves. By the end of the episode, April scores a $2 million payoff and heads off to “the Broadway…to mount the first ever all-white production of The Wiz."

Fun Broadway Tie-Ins:
Two days after Promises, Promises' Broadway opening, Kurt takes center-stage at Glee practice to sing Bacharach & David's  “A House is Not a Home," one of Chenoweth's show-stoppers in the current revival. She even gets to sneak a bit of the song into her "One Less Bell to Answer" duet. (Hey, if you can't see her at the Broadway Theatre, you can hear her on TV.) If that weren’t enough, the episode ends with The Wiz’s beautiful ballad “Home.” Should April’s version of the show make it to Broadway, Kristin had better be in it. After all, she's an expert at bringing Oz to life on stage!