Menzel, best known for her performances in "Rent" and "Wicked," released her third solo album and Warner Bros. Records debut, "I Stand," early last year. The singer/songwriter said that while working on the 10-song set, produced by Grammy winner Glen Ballard, she felt like she had complete artistic freedom for the first time.

"I've wanted to work with Glen forever," Menzel explained in her bio. "He really understands musicians and provides the perfect environment for creativity. Not only did he have a deep understanding of the complexities and timbre of my voice but he celebrated my talent as a songwriter."

The album's lead single, "Brave," which was inspired by some trying times in Menzel's life, has been really connecting with fans on the road, she said.

"[Concertgoers] have been telling me some really personal, intimate stories about their lives," Menzel told LiveDaily in a recent interview. "I never imagined that a song would take on such a larger life than what I was experiencing. These people are going through some really powerful stuff and the song has touched them and connected with them in a way. I get to hear it from their mouth. It's a real gift for a songwriter."

Menzel's latest single, "Hope," was released last fall to raise awareness and money for Major League Baseball's Stand Up To Cancer initiative. The tune, which is streaming at the performer's MySpace page, is available for purchase at online retailers.

The New York native started her career singing at weddings and bar mitzvahs, and performing with rock bands in NYC clubs. In 1995, she landed the role of Maureen in the Broadway-bound "Rent," which went on to win four Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize. In 2003, Menzel originated the role of "the green girl" in the musical "Wicked," a part that earned her a leading-actress Tony.