'Glee' Season Three: Idina Menzel to Return as Rachel's Mom

Big news for "Glee" season three, as Deadline is reporting that Idina Menzel is planning on returning to the hit FOX show for a big 10-episode arc when it returns in the fall!

Menzel, who is a Tony Award winner and appeared in the original cast of "Wicked" with Kristin Chenoweth (also a frequent "Glee" guest), was introduced to the "Glee" cast in season one as Shelby Corcoran, Rachel Berry's estranged mother. She was also the coach of New Directions rivals Vocal Adrenaline, but exited the show after adopting Quinn's baby.

With Menzel returning for such a long arc, we can assume that her relationship with Rachel is going to be a big part of the ongoing story of season three. With Rachel graduating at the end of the season, the conflict teased in the recent finale between her relationship with Finn and her desire to act on Broadway will likely also play in, and we can assume that Shelby will be another draw for Rachel to pursue her dreams.

With Rachel's birth mother playing such a big role, you have to wonder if Ryan Murphy will decide to finally reveal Rachel's two gay dads. And if he does, who will play them? Murphy has said that he's not sure he ever wants them to be revealed (he thinks it's "funny if we never see them"), but you would think they'd have to be a part of this storyline somehow.