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Sara Bareilles Credits Waitressing for Honing Performance Skills

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Friday, January 9th 2026 at 10:59 GMT by reuters.com

Los Angeles, CA - January 9th, 2026 - Sara Bareilles, the multifaceted artist captivating audiences with her music, Broadway scores, and now a potential Oscar nomination, is reflecting on the formative years that paved her path to stardom. While currently enjoying the buzz around her song "Stand Tall" from the Wonka film, Bareilles readily shares how a decade spent as a waitress in California unexpectedly laid the foundation for her creative success.

Bareilles, 44, isn't shying away from discussing her pre-fame life. She vividly recalls the demanding yet invaluable experience of navigating the bustling environment of a California diner. For nearly ten years, she honed skills far beyond simply balancing plates and taking orders. It was, she explains, an intensive course in human interaction, emotional intelligence, and rapid-fire problem-solving - qualities that have proven remarkably transferable to her artistic endeavors.

"I was a professional multitasker, absolutely," Bareilles told Reuters in a recent interview. "The job forces you to be constantly 'on.' You're reading body language, anticipating needs before they're voiced, diffusing tense situations, and all while maintaining a friendly demeanor. That's performance, right there. It's about connecting with people, understanding their unspoken cues, and making them feel comfortable. Those skills translated incredibly well to being a performer."

The ability to read people, to empathize with diverse perspectives, was central to Bareilles' training. The constant exposure to a broad spectrum of individuals, each with their own stories and moods, fostered a deep sense of observation. "It was a really wonderful training ground for empathy and observation," she elaborates. "I learned a lot about human behavior just by watching people interact in that setting. You see everything when you're serving people - celebrations, heartbreaks, quiet moments of reflection. It was a crash course in understanding the human condition."

This understanding permeates Bareilles' work, lending authenticity and emotional resonance to her songwriting and theatrical compositions. Her ability to craft relatable characters and narratives stems, in part, from those years spent quietly observing the lives unfolding around her. It's a testament to how seemingly unrelated experiences can contribute to an artist's depth and perspective.

Now, Bareilles finds herself in a different spotlight, but one equally demanding and fulfilling. "Stand Tall," featured prominently in the widely acclaimed Wonka film, is generating significant Oscar buzz. The upbeat and inspiring track perfectly captures the film's whimsical spirit and message of embracing individuality. The song's potential nomination for Best Original Song represents another peak in a career already adorned with Grammy and Tony Award nominations.

"It feels really good to be part of a project that's bringing a little bit of joy and whimsy into the world," Bareilles shared. "Especially now, I think people are craving that escape, that lightness. And it's especially meaningful to be recognized for something that I poured my heart into."

Bareilles' trajectory - from serving tables to composing for Broadway and contributing to major motion pictures - highlights the power of perseverance and the unexpected ways in which life experiences can shape artistic expression. While her creative pursuits now take center stage, she acknowledges that her early days in the service industry remain a crucial part of her identity.

"I'm grateful for the experience," Bareilles concludes. "It wasn't always easy, but it made me who I am today. It taught me resilience, empathy, and the importance of connecting with people - all things that continue to fuel my work and my life."