
Katharine McPhee
Biography
Katharine Hope McPhee Foster (born March 25, 1984) is an American pop singer, songwriter and actress. She gained fame as the runner-up on the fifth season of American Idol in May 2006.
Her eponymous debut album was released on RCA Records on January 30, 2007, and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 381,000 copies (as of December 2010). The album's first single, "Over It", was a Pop Top 30 hit and was certified gold in 2008. Her second album, Unbroken, was released on Verve Forecast Records on January 5, 2010, and debuted at No. 27 on the "Billboard 200". The album featured the single "Had It All", which peaked at number 22 on the AC chart.
Her third album, the holiday-themed Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You, was released on October 12, 2010. The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart, while the single "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" peaked at number 16 on the "Billboard" AC chart. McPhee released her fourth album, Hysteria, on September 18, 2015. She released her fifth album, I Fall in Love Too Easily, composed of jazz standards, on November 17, 2017.
She has also established an acting career, co-starring in The House Bunny, Shark Night 3D, and The Tiger Rising (2022). She starred as Karen Cartwright on the NBC series Smash, as Paige Dineen on the CBS series Scorpion, and as Bailey on Netflix's Country Comfort (2021).
She made her Broadway debut in the musical Waitress, taking over the role of Jenna in 2018 and again in 2019-2020 and also starred in the role in London's West End in 2019.
Known For

TV
Family Guy
Mother Maggie (voice)
1999

TV
Great Performances
Self
1971

TV
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self
2015

TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003

TV
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988

TV
Community
Amber
2009

TV
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self
2022

TV
CSI: NY
Odessa Shaw / Dana Melton
2004

TV
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992

TV
Sherri
Self - Guest
2022

TV
Scorpion
Paige Dineen
2014

TV
The Soup
Self
2004

TV
American Idol
Self - Guest Performer
2002

TV
American Idol
Self - Contestant
2002

TV
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003

TV
The Masked Singer
Banana Split - Ice Cream
2019

TV
The Masked Singer
Self
2019

TV
Celebrity Family Feud
Self - Contestant
2015

TV
Today
Self
1952

TV
Stars in the House
Self
2020
Filmography
2025FilmAndrea Bocelli - The Celebration:30th Anniversary2024FilmAndrea Bocelli 30: The Celebrationas Self2022FilmThe Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebrationas Self2022TVThe Jennifer Hudson Showas Self2022TVSherrias Self - Guest2022FilmThe Tiger Risingas Caroline Horton2021TVCountry Comfortas Bailey2021TVCelebrity Wheel of Fortuneas Self - Contestant2020TVI Can See Your Voice2020FilmBombshell in Concertas Self2020FilmIntensive Careas Kate Richards2020TVStars in the Houseas Self2019FilmDavid Foster: Off the Recordas Self2019TVThe Masked Singeras Banana Split - Ice Cream2018FilmKatharine McPhee: Live on Soundstageas Self2018FilmBayou Caviaras Shelly2018TVAmerican Idolas Self2017FilmThe Lost Wife of Robert Durstas Kathleen “Kathie” McCormack2017FilmStayin' Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Geesas Self - Performer2015FilmSinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concertas Self2015FilmIn My Dreamsas Natalie Russo2015TVCelebrity Family Feudas Self - Contestant2015TVLip Sync Battleas Self2015FilmComedy Central Roast of Justin Bieberas Self2015TVThe Late Late Show with James Cordenas Self2014TVScorpionas Paige Dineen2012TVSmashas Karen Cartwright2011FilmPeace, Love & Misunderstandingas Sara2011FilmShark Night 3Das Beth2011FilmYou May Not Kiss the Brideas Masha Nikitin2009TVCommunityas Amber2009FilmChris Botti in Bostonas Self2008FilmHit Man: David Foster & Friendsas Self2008FilmThe House Bunnyas Harmony2008FilmCrazyas Paramount Girl2007FilmWalt Disney World Christmas Day Paradeas Self2006TVUgly Bettyas Katharine McPhee2004TVCSI: NYas Odessa Shaw / Dana Melton2004TVThe Soupas Self2003TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Showas Self2003TVJimmy Kimmel Live!as Self2003TVVH1 Top 20 Video Countdown2002TVDr. Philas Self2002TVAmerican Idolas Self - Guest Performer1999TVThe Early Showas Self1999TVFamily Guyas Mother Maggie (voice)1992TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno1988TVLIVE with Kelly and Markas Self - Guest1982TVChristmas in Washingtonas Self1981TVEntertainment Tonightas Self1975TVPeople's Choice Awardsas Self - Presenter1971TVGreat Performancesas Self1952TVTodayas Self—FilmThree People in the Woods