Katharine McPhee

The Early Years

Katharine Hope McPhee was born March 25, 1984 in Sherman Oaks, California. Her mother, Peisha, is a vocal coach and cabaret singer, and her father, Daniel, is a television producer. She has an older sister, Adriana, who is also an aspiring television producer. McPhee started singing when she was 2 years old, but never took formal lessons.

McPhee majored in musical theater at the Boston Conservatory, the school she attended for only three semesters. After dropping out, she went on more than 200 television auditions, eventually being cast as "Paramount Girl" in the 2006 movie, Crazy. She performed in local theater productions of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and Annie Get Your Gun, the latter of which she was nominated for an Ovation Award. Katharine McPhee also was cast in the short-lived MTV series, You Are Here. She is dating actor Nick Cokas.

Idol McPheever

Katharine McPhee auditioned for the fifth season of American Idol in San Francisco, California, where she sang God Bless the Child. The show's judges -- Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson -- were impressed with her performance, as was host Ryan Seacrest. Throughout the semi-finals and finals, McPhee wowed everyone, including the American public who consistenly voted for her and described her appeal as "catching the McPheever" -- crooning such hits as:

• Until You Come Back to Me
• Come Rain or Shine
• Bringing Out Elvis
• Someone to Watch Over Me
• Against All Odds
• Hound Dog
• Can't Help Falling in Love
• Think

One of the more memorable moments during the American Idol finals was McPhee's rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. This song, picked for her by Cowell, was sung during the final three round and later went on to be Katharine McPhee's debut single. Somewhere Over the Rainbow was released in June 2006 and hit number four on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales charts. It was the second highest best-selling single of 2006 after Taylor Hicks' "Do I Make You Proud?".

Rising Music Career

McPhee with Taylor Hicks at the May 2006 American Idol finals.

Following her days on American Idol, Katharine McPhee signed with RCA Records. She released her first self-titled album in January 2007, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 116,000 copies its first week. She wrote three of the songs on the album.

Katharine McPhee has appeared on two magazine covers -- Shape and TV Guide -- and on numerous television shows and specials, including:

• JCPenney Jam: The Concert for America's Kids
• American Music Awards
• The Tonight Show
• Ugly Betty
• Entertainment Tonight
• Rachael Ray
• Jimmy Kimmel Live
• Larry King Live
• VH1's Big in '06 Awards
• The Dr. Keith Ablow Show
• MTV's TRL
• The Tyra Banks Show
• Tournament of Roses Parade

In July 2006, McPhee performed three concerts with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who also appeared on American Idol during its fifth season. She also co-produced the play, Red Herring, which will be a part of the 10th Annual New York International Fringe Festival in August 2007.

Her Personal Battle

In June 2006, McPhee announced publicly she had been suffering from bulimia for five years -- an eating disorder that, because of the forced vomiting, could have destroyed her voice. After her successful audition for American Idol, she sought professional help. People magazine reported McPhee saying, "I was bingeing my whole life away for days at a time … So when I got on the show, I said, 'You know what? I can do well in this competition. Let me give myself a chance and just get ahold of this thing.' "

In October 2005, Katharine McPhee checked into the Eating Disorder Center of California (in Los Angeles), where she spent three months -- six days a week -- undergoing individual and group therapy. She said that although it was difficult at times, learning to control her eating patterns was the right thing to do.

Katharine McPhee Trivia

McPhee arriving at the 34th Annual American Music Awards in November 2006.

• She has two dogs, Lily and Nena.
• While in high school, she was student body vice president.
• She attended school with actress Rachel Bilson.
• McPhee is left-handed.
• During the first part of the American Idol tour in 2006, she broke her foot and had bronchitis and laryngitis.

It Just Goes to Show You

You don't have to come in first place on American Idol to become a star. Just ask Jennifer Hudson, who never even made it to the final four and recently won an Academy Award for her role in Dreamgirls. Or check with Clay Aiken, who sold almost 400,000 copies of his debut single, Invisible.

Additional Information

• Official site
• MySpace site
• Fan Club
• Her American Idol interview