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Jane Lynch First Cast as Phoebe on Friends? Glee Star Talks Lisa Kudrow Rumor

Jane Lynch has stolen laughs and won an Emmy as the delightfully vicious Sue Sylvester on FOX’s Glee for six years now, but was she in the running for an even more iconic TV heroine? During her appearance on HuffPost Live on Jan. 7, Lynch shut down a Hollywood legend that she almost joined the cast of Friends, and discussed Glee’s final season, which premieres Jan. 9.

jane lynch recent
Jane Lynch is currently starring in the final season of FOX’s hit show Glee as wickedly funny Sue Sylvester.

Related: PHOTOS: Behind the scenes of Glee

Lynch, 54, said that despite stories that she auditioned for Lisa Kudrow’s ditzy character Phoebe Buffay on beloved sitcom Friends, the rumors just aren’t true.

Related: PHOTOS: Glee's hottest guest stars

“That’s an urban myth, it’s a Hollywood myth,” the two time Emmy winner told HuffPost Live. “…I would have loved that audition, at that time in my life I wasn’t getting that level of audition, that’s for sure!” Lynch went on to explain her insider knowledge about how Kudrow ended up landing the role. 

Related: PHOTOS: TV shows gone too soon

“[Kudrow] got the role [as Roz] on Frasier and was fired,” Lynch said. “…And then Lisa, they cast in Friends, and then I mean, come on, that was the role of a lifetime.”

Related: PHOTOS: Friends stars then and now

Lynch admitted to being a huge Friends fan, and even guest starred as a real estate agent in one of the series’ final episodes.

“There was a time when it was in syndication, I was watching it two times a day, and I love it, I think it’s a great multi-camera sitcom, one of the best ever made,” she said.

As for her own hit TV show, Lynch has gotten to act alongside some high-caliber big and small-screen stars.

jane lynch on glee season 6
Lauren Potter and Jane Lynch on Season 6 of “Glee”

Josh Groban, Olivia Newton-John, Carol Burnett, Britney Spears at one point,” are just some of the Glee guest stars Lynch listed.

As for a favorite? Lynch has two. 

“I’ve always been a fan of Olivia Newton-John, in fact I named my dog after her which she was quite flattered, she’s a dog person too,” she said, later adding,”We got to remake the [Newton-John song] ‘Physical’ video with her, and that was a lot of fun.”

Lynch’s other favorite Glee guest was Burnett, who played her character Sue’s mother. Lynch, who starred alongside the famous comedienne in the 2009 movie Post Grad, said she’s been a fan of Burnett “forever.” 

Have a question you’d like to ask a celebrity? Check out who will be appearing on HuffPost Live and submit your question to be asked live on-air!

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