How I Met Your Mother's Cristin Milioti on YouTubing Beyonce, Crying Over RuPaul & Singing Bon Iver at Joe's Pub

How I Met Your Mother’s newly minted title star Cristin Milioti is heading to Joe’s Pub on May 26 for a one-night-only concert event. Below the adorable Once Tony nominee jokes about not having musical theater music on her iPod, not sustaining a workout regimen and the virtual inability to single out a superior love song.

What record/album was your favorite growing up?
It depends on what age we're talking about, but most likely it was the Beatles' White Album, Sgt. Pepper's, or Elvis Costello's Spike. And a smattering of Frank Zappa and Pink Floyd albums. Those are the ones I remember listening to most frequently.

What concert most influenced you as a performer?
I haven't seen many concerts, oddly. But I've seen Fiona Apple twice, and she is absolutely electric. So is Thom Yorke, who I've also had the pleasure of seeing. And I've watched a lot of YouTube videos of Beyonce in concert...does that count?

What is your go-to audition song?
I used to use Regina Spektor's "Music Box," which has two measures during which there are notated sounds of choking on soapy water. For some reason, it never went over well. So then I switched to "Carbon Monoxide" (also by Regina Spektor). I also used to use "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney.

What song are you most excited to perform in your show?
I love performing our covers of "Skinny Love" (Bon Iver), "Werewolf" (Fiona Apple) and "Call Your Girlfriend" (Robyn). I can't choose just one. I'm excited about all of them.

What musical theater track is the most played on your iPod?
I don't have any musical theater on my iPod...I think I used to have "I Wanna Be Like You" from The Jungle Book. Does that count? That's a Disney movie. It was like my mix-tape party trick. However, at the concert I'm doing a ukulele version of a Sondheim song, which is a first for me.

If you could invite any performer onstage for a duet at Joe’s Pub, who would it be?
Fiona Apple. Actually, I'd be too intimidated and probably pass out or start crying. RuPaul. Actually, I'd be too intimidated and probably pass out or start crying.

What musical theater performer from the past do you wish you could collaborate with?
Like from the past, as in dead?! ...Or like, someone who has done a show at one point in the past? I'm gonna go with the second one—I'd love to work with Alan Cumming. I mean, there's a list of 1,000 people I'd love to work with, but he was the first name that popped into my head.

What album was the soundtrack to your 20s?
I'm still in my 20s, but at the risk of sounding obsessive, my early, early 20s were spent listening to Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, and Radiohead. And Bjork.

What’s your favorite love song?
Who's your favorite kid? I can't answer that.

What song makes you feel sexy?
Anything sung by Rihanna. But then while I'm lip-synching and dancing in the mirror, I'm reminded that I'm not Rihanna, and then I get really self-conscious and put away my crop tops.

What is your favorite workout track?
If I were able to run or lift weights for more than two minutes without collapsing, it would probably be Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" or Beyonce's "Ring the Alarm."

What’s the best hidden gem in on your iPod?
I've got some really obscure bluegrass and blues songs from 1920s, which are incredible.

Favorite break-up song?
I mean... is there any better break-up song than Adele's "Someone Like You"? Actually, Fiona Apple's "I Know" and "Parting Gift" and "Werewolf" are also favorites of mine. Also, Elvis Costello's "I Want You."

What song most makes you smile?
Too many to list. 99.9% of music makes me smile. Except for like, really dark trance club music. Or whatever type of music Marilyn Manson makes. No disrespect to anyone who enjoys it or to Mr. Manson shimself, it just makes me sweaty and anxious.

When this song plays, I can’t help but dance:
Beyonce's "Single Ladies." Every night before Once, I would do a dance to this song for my dresser, Cailin...whether she liked it or not. I don't know if she cared for it at first, but after six months or so, I wore her down and she enjoyed it.

My vote for the song of summer is:
"Mirrors" by Justin Timberlake. I can't. Stop. Listening. To It.

Don’t miss Cristin Milioti at Joe’s Pub on May 26. Check out the Once Tony nominee-turned-TV star performing “Skinny Love” live in the video below.