"Apparantly she has been offered the part twice before and turned it down because she didn't think she could do it justice vocally. If this is true I wonder what made her change her mind."
I have actually heard quite the opposite. When the performers on board her cruise did "One Day More" with her as Madame Thenardier, she said it was a like a dream fulfilled for her because she'd always wanted the role but was never able to even be seen for it because the producers felt she couldn't possibly sing it. That goes along with her saying she'll be joining the cast "if I can do [the song.]"
This rumor leaked out on All That Chat a few days ago. If it comes to fruition, I think she could be a nice addition to the cast. It's about time she finally ended up doing it (though I still think she should get her own show again.)
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.