She is known for her work on Broadway as Daisy Hilton in Side Show and Sherrie Christian in Rock of Ages, as well as for originating the roles of Lucy Grant in Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's Bright Star, and Mrs. Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Her love for musical theatre started at an early age when her parents would go to New York City on vacation, bringing home cast recordings for Padgett as souvineres.
She took part in her high school theatre program, being cast as Maria in West Side Story at sixteen, a role she "had no business playing."
Following graduation, Padgett quickly booked the role of Demeter in the non-Equity national tour cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats in 2005.
[4] In 2011, Padgett starred as Eden in the Whoopi Goldberg-produced White Noise: A Cautionary Musical at the Royal George Theatre in Chicago.
[6] In 2014, Padgett starred as Daisy Hilton in Side Show at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and La Jolla Playhouse.