Katharine McPhee

Katharine McPhee is an American singer and actress who first gained national attention as the runner-up on the fifth season of American Idol in 2006. Her self-titled debut album followed shortly after, spawning the hit single «Over It», which became one of the highest-charting singles by an Idol alumna at the time. Her pop sound blended radio-friendly hooks with soulful vocal delivery, and songs like «Terrified» and «Had It All» showcased her range across pop and R&B textures.

Beyond music, McPhee built a prominent acting career, starring as Karen Cartwright in the NBC musical drama Smash, where she performed songs including «Touch Me», which topped the Billboard Hot Dance Chart. She also had a long-running role on the CBS drama Scorpion. Her connection to musical theater and television has continued to shape her recording output, including standards-oriented material such as «Somewhere Over the Rainbow» and «I’ll Be Seeing You».

In recent years McPhee has moved toward jazz and classic pop styling, working with veteran producer David Foster, whom she married in 2019. This collaboration marked a shift from her earlier chart-pop identity toward a more intimate, vocalist-driven sound rooted in the American songbook tradition.