Actress, singer, and songwriter Kelsie Watts’s reign as Jane Seymour in SIX, which earned her an iHeartRadio Music Award nomination for “Favorite Broadway Debut,” came to an end on Sunday, February 15, with a “Celebration of Royalty” after-party at Planet Hollywood, honoring the Queen and attended by her co-star SIX Queens. But her burgeoning “fifteen minutes of fame” is still going strong; she’ll soon be seen again on Broadway, beginning on March 24, in the starring role of Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
A native of Lubbock, Texas, Watts has been singing since the age of two and began performing in church and school plays before her formal training in opera and commercial music at Belmont University in Nashville, where she also started writing her own original songs. Her self-released work includes “I Can’t Say Goodbye,” “After Midnight,” “Forgetful” (a duet written by Diane Warren), and “Fit In” (which reached the Top 20 on digital radio), and her voice is also heard on Backstreet Boys AJ McLean’s solo single “Hurts to Love You.”
For the recent 2025 holiday season, Watts released “Christmas in New York,” and to celebrate the song, which was featured on Disney’s LIVE with Kelly and Mark, performed at tree lighting events across the City. This month, she sang the National Anthem at the New York Islanders/Pittsburgh Penguins game on February 3, which was televised on TNT and streamed on Max and NHL.com. And prior to that, she was seen on Season 19 of NBC TV’s The Voice, getting millions of views on social media and earning a spot of Team Kelly with her viral blockbuster performance of Clarkson’s “I Dare You.”
Kelsie generously made time in her busy stage, screen, and recording studio schedule, between her farewell performance in SIX and her upcoming role in Moulin Rouge!, to answer our quick questions about her career, her favorites, and her ever growing fame.
1. What is it about Broadway?
Kelsie: I love live theater and feel like Broadway is the Olympics of performing. Who else does eight shows a week for a full year or more? It’s a coveted goal among people in the entertainment industry. I’m beyond blessed to be a small part of the Broadway world.
2. What three emotions did you feel when you made your debut on the Broadway stage?
Excitement. Anxiety. Relief.
3. What did you find most relatable about your character Jane Seymour?
Her controlled strength. She needed to be perceived as calm and poised, but underneath she was incredibly strong, vulnerable, and kinda quirky.
4. What will you miss most about SIX?
The other women in my cast.
5. What’s the most fabulous thing about performing live?
Getting to use my voice to make people feel something; and when I perform live I get to see that in real time.
6. What’s the most memorable reaction you’ve ever gotten from an audience member?
Any time I got a standing ovation during the show was a big deal. Each one of the people who were impacted enough to stand up will always be a favorite memory.
7. Which song are you most looking forward to performing in Moulin Rouge?
I’m most looking forward to performing “Come What May” and “Firework” when I play Satine.
8. What do you love most about NYC?
I love that there are endless opportunities in New York.
9. What’s your first creative memory?
Singing and dancing to “All I Want for Christmas is You” and decorating the Christmas tree.
10. Who’s been the biggest inspiration in your career?
The biggest inspirations in my career are the people who have supported me before I was who I am in this industry. They’ve been there from day one and I wouldn’t be here without them.
11. Is there a dream role or show you’d like to play in the future?
I would love to originate a role on Broadway, but if I had to choose from a show currently playing, I would love to be Eurydice in Hadestown.
12. What three things do you always have in your dressing room?
Essentia water, photos of friends and family, and an oversized sweatshirt.
13. What do you do for fun when you’re not working?
I love to go to the gym, grab coffee with friends, read, practice piano and guitar, and go to shows.
14. What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Hardworking, kind, and level-headed.
15. What’s the biggest lure of being famous?
To be completely honest, I don’t have a desire simply to “be famous.” The validation I feel from people seeing how hard I’ve worked to get where I am is encouraging. However, fame is not the goal. Being an artist for a living, sharing music, touring the world, making a difference in people’s lives, and financial stability are the goals. If fame comes along with that, then that will help me share my message further than I could’ve ever dreamed.
Thanks, Kelsie, for sharing a fast and lively 15 minutes with us! Congratulations on your fan-favorite Broadway debut in SIX, your upcoming lead role in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and your many other successes!
Moulin Rouge! The Musical plays through Sunday, July 26, 2026, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 West 45th Street, NYC. For tickets (priced at $65.75-388.93, including fees), go online, or find discount tickets at TodayTix.
