• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2026 ABC News
  • Culture

Why Idina Menzel Calls John Travolta's Flub 'The Best Mistake That's Ever Happened to Me'

Idina Menzel performs during the CMA 2014 Country Christmas on Nov. 7, 2014 in Nashville, Tenn.
Rick Diamond/Getty Images
ByLESLEY MESSER
November 13, 2014, 6:30 PM

— -- At the Oscars this past March, John Travolta famously flubbed Idina Menzel's name.

However, Menzel -- or, as Travolta called her, "Adele Dazeem" -- has a great attitude about it.

"It’s the best mistake that’s ever happened to me," she told Redbook magazine. "Just having the kind of success where people might know my name — my real name! It took me a long time to stop chasing it and just embrace it."

Related Articles

<a href="http://abcnews.com/topics/entertainment/actors/taye-diggs.htm" id="ramplink_Taye Diggs_" target="_blank">Taye Diggs</a> and Idina Menzel Split

Related Articles

Taye Diggs Feared Fans Would 'Trip Out' Over His Split from Idina Menzel

Related Articles

Disney's 'Frozen' Is An Icy Musical Adventure

These days, Menzel's name is bound to be heard more and more as the "Frozen" star, 43, is promoting her new holiday album, starring in her Broadway show, "If/Then," and of course, being a mother to her son with her ex-husband, Taye Diggs. Balancing work with motherhood can be tough.

"The guilt is the thing that we as women all feel, whether we stay at home or we work. There are a lot of double standards with the way the men in our lives see how we make those choices," she said. "I think there’s an accounting for how much time I spend with my son, and men don’t have to account for how much time they spend with their child. It hurts to feel that’s a judgment being made. Because we’re already judging ourselves."

Fitting in a dating life, then, has been nearly impossible.

"I’m open to it. I just don’t have a lot of time," she said. "They’d have to meet me at, like, midnight after the show, and that’s kind of slutty, isn’t it?"

Up Next in Culture—

Biggest moments from the 2026 American Music Awards

May 26, 2026

'Dolly All the Time' by Annabel Monaghan is our 'GMA' Book Club pick for June

May 26, 2026

Pat McAfee says wife had emergency C-section to deliver 2nd child

May 25, 2026

Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce share sweet courtside moment at NBA playoff game

May 24, 2026

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2026 ABC News