Katharine McPhee

Katharine Hope McPhee has become best known for her status as runner-up behind Taylor Hicks on the fifth season of American Idol. She was not an overnight success however; acting and singing have been a part of her life since she was little.

Katharine was born in 1984, in Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Peisha Burch McPhee, is a vocal coach and cabaret singer. When Katharine began singing at the age of two, her mother recognized her talent and began training her as a singer. She has one sister, Adriana.

McPhee led a very normal childhood, attending Notre Dame High School where she was the student body vice president. She also performed in several of her school’s plays and was on the varsity swim team. In addition to her already busy schedule, McPhee also took dance classes.

After graduating from Notre Dame High in 2002, Katharine attended the Boston Conservatory, studying musical theater for a year and a half. It was her manager who talked her into leaving school and returning to Los Angeles in 2005 to audition for television pilots. In an interview McPhee said she was rejected in “195 out of 200 auditions.”

She obtained some success that year and completed one pilot, as well as one independent film, both of which will be released in 2006. She also earned the lead role in the production of Annie Get Your Gun. For her performance in the show, she was nominated for the 2005 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award. The future idol also performed in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.

That year, McPhee’s boyfriend, actor Nick Cokas, talked her into auditioning for American Idol. Cokas drove her to San Francisco and during her audition, McPhee sang God Bless the Child. Judge Randy Jackson said it was the best audition they had heard so far that season. McPhee became loved by all of the judges, including Simon Cowell, when she sang Over the Rainbow on the show. A beaming Cowell exclaimed that it was the best performance to date for the entire competition. 

McPhee performed at the finale of American Idol on May 24, 2006. Her fellow competitor was Taylor Hicks, who ended up winning the show. McPhee wasn’t too disappointed though; she still walked away with a record deal of her own and was also congratulated by Congressman Brad Sherman who raised a flag in her honor on the day of the finale.

Shortly after American Idol concluded, rumors started spreading about Katharine McPhee's struggles with eating disorders. Allegations also came out that she practiced Scientology. She denies these allegations and says she once looked into it, but does not practice.  

Katharine debuted her first singles, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "My Destiny," in June of 2006. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" reached #12 on the Billboard’s Hot 100 charts. She then went on tour with the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli less than a month after American Idol had ended.

Plenty of doors have opened up for Katharine McPhee since her appearance on American Idol. Her debut album will be released in January of 2007. She is also co-producing the play Red Herring, hoping to stay involved in theater. The play will be performed at the New York International Fringe Festival. She has also become the new spokesperson for Sexy Hair Concepts.

YUDDY