Lisa Kudrow has had many roles over the past few decades, particularly her acclaimed performance as washed-up sitcom star in critically acclaimed HBO comedy “The Comeback.”
However, there will always be one character that will loom larger than anything she’s ever done or will ever do: quirky Phoebe Buffay from ““Friends.”
A Musical Request
More than two decades after the beloved sitcom ended its run, Kudrow continues to be approached by fans of the show.
During a recent appearance on “Fresh Air with Terry Gross & Tonya Mosley,” Kudrow noted that she often receives a very specific request from “Friends” fans.
“Sometimes people will stop me and say, ‘Oh, sing “Smelly Cat,”‘” she said, referencing the iconic song written and performed by Phoebe at several points in the series.
However, Kudrow revealed that was one line that she has refused to cross, and will not acquiesce to that request.
“I don’t want to do that,” she declared. “I really don’t want to do that.”
‘Smelly Cat’ Lives On
While it’s understandable why Kudrow doesn’t want to perform the now-iconic song, it’s also understandable why fans would want to hear her reprise it.
During the show, the song landed Phoebe a recording contract, and she even starred in a “Smelly Cat” music video.
As a result, the song has become something of a signature for the character, and remains beloved by fans.
‘Smelly Cat: Taylor’s Version’
Since the show ended, “Smelly Cat” has taken on a life of its own.
That was apparent in 2015, when Taylor Swift invited Kudrow onstage during a Los Angeles concert for a “Smelly Cat” duet as the crowd in the Staples Center roared with delight.
A Duet with Gaga
Swift isn’t the only pop superstar to share vocals with Kudrow on “Smelly Cat.”
One of the highlights of HBO’s 2021 “Friends” reunion special was Kudrow duetting on the song with Lady Gaga.
During an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” Kudrow admitted she was “really nervous” about singing with Gaga, and took some time to rehearse ahead of time.
“I realized I had to learn ‘Smelly Cat’ again and I tuned my guitar and then realized I don’t know the chords,” she recalled, as reported by Today.com.
“But I Googled it. All the chords were there,” she added. “So thank you, world, for posting the chords.”
However, relearning the chords was only the first step in preparing for the performance.
“So I learned it and then my throat closed. I was so panicked, I couldn’t get anything out. I didn’t know what was going to happen but it worked out,” she continued.
Asked if she continued to play guitar — which she learned for her “Friends” role — after the show ended, she admitted she hadn’t.
“Oh no, absolutely not,” she confirmed. “Just for the show, for those 10 years and then I was done.”
Recalling meeting Gaga at the reunion special, Kudrow recalled how touched she was when the “Paparazzi” singer thanked her for being “the different one on ‘Friends,'” which encouraged her to accept and appreciate her own uniqueness.
“That really almost made me cry,” Kudrow said of Gaga’s kind words. “That blew me away.”
