Katharine McPhee
News

Perky blonde / professional ditz Kellie Pickler has become the fourth contestant from last season's American Idol to land a record deal, signing yesterday with country label BNA Records and (Idol creator) Simon Fuller's 19 Recordings Limited.

Her debut album is scheduled for a November 14 release. Pickler is currently with her fellow Idols on their barnstorming cross-county American Idols Live tour.

Meanwhile, Pickler's recent guest-host stint on The View went so well that Rosie O'Donnell, the show's soon-to-be co-host, gushed about it. O'Donnell commented on the appearance on her website yesterday, giving Kellie P. quite the enthusiastic review.

THAT KID/TODAY ON THE VIEW/PERFECTION/TRIPLE LOVE HER.

Eloquent, Rosie.

In other Idol news, the lovely Season Five runner-up has rebuffed reports that she has ditched the concert tour altogether.

Katharine McPhee, sidelined by bronchitis and laryngitis for the last few weeks, posted a letter to her admirers on the fan site katharinefans.com.

"I have heard a rumor that I will be missing the entire tour, I can assure you that that is completely false. I am looking to join the tour around the 21st. That is the doctors [sic] orders, not mine," she wrote.

McPhee has been ordered by her physician to keep completely silent for the last week and half, but old guy boyfriend Nick Cokas has been acting as her interpreter and man-servant. Nice of him. Katharine will test out the ol' pipes on Wednesday when she co-hosts The View herself. Good luck!

Ailing American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee has been getting a little extra TLC from her boyfriend, actor Nick Cokas, People reports.

The 22-year old singer, who has sadly missed the first dates of the totally awesome American Idols Live tour due to bronchitis and laryngitis, stopped by Cold Stone Creamery in Studio City, Calif., with her beau for a cool treat on Thursday. Presumably, the treat was ice cream or something similar.

Ever the gentleman, the 41-year old Cokas held the door open for his recovering sweetie as they entered the store, then held her purse as she snapped a photo with a fan.

Cokas has been acting as McPhee's caretaker and interpreter, since she can't talk and all (fortunately, an AIM interview was still possible). Cokas says that under the doctor's orders, McPhee will miss another few days of the tour, but hopes to join her fellow Idols by the time they reach Rochester, N.Y., on July 21.

It's nice to see that Katharine is being treated like a princess by this guy. We would certainly treat her right, if you know what we're saying. We're saying we love you, Katharine!

One fan said she was "bummed out" about the news. And we'd imagine a large number of other concert goers feel the same way.

Nevertheless, as finalists from American Idols Live kicked off their U.S. tour Wednesday, this season's runner-up, Katharine McPhee, was nowhere to be seen. She was sidelined with severe bronchitis and laryngitis.

Those in Manchester - at the Verizon Wireless Arena - won't get to see this talent perform. Organizers announced that McPhee's doctor, Sean Nassari, ordered "total voice rest."

The starlet, of course, didn't want to let down her fans. In a statement, she said she was disappointed she couldn't perform, but "I need to follow my doctor's orders to recuperate and reunite with the rest of the Idols."

Amen, Kat. Feel better soon.

What can't the American Idol finalists live without?

A lot of things, ranging from the physically essential (insulin) to the spiritual (the Bible) to the emotional (a blanket from home). As they kick off their 51-city tour in Manchester, N.H., the awesome Idols told People Magazine what special things they'll be taking with them on the road. The tour begins July 5. That's today!

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"I have two things: a bracelet that my fans made for me that says Ace Music on it and beanies so I can throw them out to fans. I have over 300 made. They're going to have a logo that my fans and I have put together." -- Ace Young

"A Taylor travel guitar. It's a little bitty one. It'll go in the bunk with me." -- Taylor Hicks

"A couple pictures of my family and my dog Lily." -- Katharine McPhee

"I have to bring my cowboy hat, black and brown." -- Bucky Covington

"My Bible, of course. The Psalms is a really great book because it runs every emotion possible. I imagine I could use that on tour." -- Mandisa

"My teddy bear. I got it for my Sweet 16 birthday last year and he's still alive. He's a caramel color and so soft. I bought him a new outfit because I just turned 17 on June 13." -- Lisa Tucker

"My little blankie from home. I've had it ever since I was little. It was passed along my family from my grandparents, from grandma to grandma to grandma." -- Kellie Pickler

"My stuffed-animal SpongeBob and my SpongeBob blanket. Kellie's blankie is not as cool as mine!" -- Paris Bennett

"Insulin. I really can't live without it (as a diabetic)." -- Elliott Yamin

Mobbed by fans in public, confessing her personal struggles and generally making headlines everywhere she goes, Katharine McPhee is already a star. But the American Idol runner-up still has time for us geeks.

The lovely, computer-savvy 22-year old singer is the subject of AOL Music's latest AIM interview. In her instant messages with some lucky dude from AOL, Katharine discussed what it felt like to be on American Idol, what projects she's working on, what she thinks of Iran's nuclear aspirations and a whole lot more. The full transcript appears below.

[NOTE: McPhee is "KatharineIdol"]
[NOTE: She is now on my Buddy List]
[NOTE: She is not online right now]
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AOLMusicScottB: hey hey
KatharineIdol: yay
AOLMusicScottB: Where are you IMing from?
KatharineIdol: From my parents house
AOLMusicScottB: you actually have some time off?
KatharineIdol: well yesterday was my only day off
KatharineIdol: I have a photo shoot today
AOLMusicScottB: for the new record?
KatharineIdol: No for OK mag. That shoot will be later this month
KatharineIdol: all my friends are IMing right now!!! AHHHHH
AOLMusicScottB: hahaha
KatharineIdol: yep
AOLMusicScottB: How crazy is everything right now?
KatharineIdol: Pretty crazy
KatharineIdol: My phone has rung about 25 times in the last hour during these interviews
KatharineIdol: I should probably go get it. One sec
AOLMusicScottB: wow, i definitely don't have that problem
KatharineIdol: You don't want that problem
AOLMusicScottB: maybe it's paula abdul asking you on a date?
KatharineIdol: Hahaha
KatharineIdol: No time for dates
KatharineIdol: I can't wait to get out of the country where my phone can't ring
AOLMusicScottB: i'm sure. does it even matter anymore if you come in 1st or 2nd on american idol?
KatharineIdol: I don't think it matters
KatharineIdol: I think I'm going to be fine
KatharineIdol: As long as I get to perform in some kind of way i will be happy
AOLMusicScottB: you gonna try and pull a clay and outshine taylor?
KatharineIdol: I'm just trying to do the best that I can. I'm not trying to outshine anyone really. I'm just in competition with myself
KatharineIdol: that would be cool if I could have as much success as Clay though
AOLMusicScottB: true.
AOLMusicScottB: when you lost you didn't look surprised at all... were you expecting it?
KatharineIdol: I was just happy to be where I was
KatharineIdol: Everyone keeps saying that. I don't know what the other reactions were from the runners up from passed seasons, but you have to be pretty humbled to simply just be where you are
KatharineIdol: Someone has to win
AOLMusicScottB: i'd be pissed and prob would have jumped simon and maybe paula too
KatharineIdol: HAHAHAHA
KatharineIdol: that would have been a site to see
KatharineIdol: I would have liked to be at your finale
AOLMusicScottB: i prob couldn't take him, but paula i think i could handle.
AOLMusicScottB: yeah, you could have seen it on american idol and then right after on cops
KatharineIdol: I think you could handle all of em
KatharineIdol: exactly
AOLMusicScottB: so you've seen how buff i am then.
KatharineIdol: This is much better than regular interview over the phone
KatharineIdol: I have been stalking you
AOLMusicScottB: sweet
AOLMusicScottB: just had to check the windows real quick like to make sure you weren't out there.
KatharineIdol: I am you just can't see me. I have had a lot of experience
KatharineIdol: hehe
AOLMusicScottB: multi talented
KatharineIdol: Very
AOLMusicScottB: speaking of which
KatharineIdol: Yes?
AOLMusicScottB: i hear you have an interest in acting?
KatharineIdol: Yes I do, I have been working on an acting career for years before I even auditioned for idol
AOLMusicScottB: any offers yet?
KatharineIdol: No just have a couple of projects that I’m up for but no for sure things yet
KatharineIdol: I want to make very smart decisions when it does come time to take a part
KatharineIdol: I want it to be something that I know I can do well in
KatharineIdol: It's all about making smart choices from here on out
AOLMusicScottB: no from justin to kelly part 2?
KatharineIdol: I don't think so
KatharineIdol: hahaha
AOLMusicScottB: so your single comes out on the 27th of june, how excited are you?
KatharineIdol: So exciting
KatharineIdol: I hope my fans enjoy it
AOLMusicScottB: i'm already in line waiting for it
KatharineIdol: ahhh sucks!!! thanks
AOLMusicScottB: and getting a little dehydrated actually
KatharineIdol: You better cuz now you’re on my buddy list. that means we’re friends
KatharineIdol: Drink some water
AOLMusicScottB: bff
KatharineIdol: till we die
KatharineIdol: and then after
AOLMusicScottB: exactly
AOLMusicScottB: you go on tour soon too are you ready?
KatharineIdol: yea very excited to play those big houses
AOLMusicScottB: you should learn how to do backflips like B5
AOLMusicScottB: that would rule
KatharineIdol: Already working on it
AOLMusicScottB: ok, a couple more very important questions and you are free to go
AOLMusicScottB: If you had to be in either Slayer or Motorhead, which band would you be in?
KatharineIdol: AHHH motorhead
AOLMusicScottB: good call
KatharineIdol: much better
KatharineIdol: thats like death metal, my kind of stuff
KatharineIdol: haha
AOLMusicScottB: secondly, and equally as important, do you think iran has nukes? and if not how far away are they?
KatharineIdol: what?
AOLMusicScottB: good answer, you'll make a great politician
KatharineIdol: yes I would
AOLMusicScottB: ok, any last words to your fans?
KatharineIdol: that I love them and that I'm eternally grateful to them for getting me to the position that im at today
KatharineIdol: they are the greatest
KatharineIdol: And so are you!!!
KatharineIdol: hehe
AOLMusicScottB: hahah
AOLMusicScottB: ok, go answer your phone. thanks for taking the time
AOLMusicScottB: peace
KatharineIdol: my pleasure
KatharineIdol: peace out

The typically harsh Simon Cowell called runner-up Katharine McPhee's voice "the best of the competition" on the most recent season of American Idol.

While it's no secret that legions of McPhans became captivated by McPhee's looks and talent on Idol, hardly anyone knew that she risked destroying it all during a five-year battle with bulimia. Self-induced vomiting put her ability to sing in serious jeopardy, not to mention the litany of health problems it exposed her to.

When McPhee hit bottom, she was throwing up as many as seven times a day.

"It's like putting a sledgehammer to your vocal cords," the 22-year old, native Californian tells People Magazine in its new issue.

After successfully auditioning for Idol last fall, McPhee finally decided to seek help.

"When I made it onto American Idol, I knew that food -- my eating disorder -- was the one thing really holding me back," Katharine said. "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.'"

With the support of parents Peisha and Daniel, and her boyfriend, 41-year old actor Nick Cokas, McPhee enrolled at Los Angeles's Eating Disorder Center of California last October. She spent three months there in group and individual therapy sessions, six days a week.

"I knew I had put off going to a treatment center long enough. I'd been struggling with bulimia since I was 17," McPhee said. "Growing up in Los Angeles and spending all those years in dance class, I'd been conscious of body image at a young age, and I went through phases of exercising compulsively and starving myself. Food was my crutch; it was how I dealt with emotions and uncomfortable situations."

The Eating Disorder Center helped her gain control of her relationship with food, but it was far from easy.

"I really had to surrender and give up having a free life to do the program, because I'd be there from 9 in the morning until 7 at night... I remember that first night, my dad holding me, crying and saying, 'I don't know why you have to suffer through this, but it's going to be okay.'"

McPhee, who narrowly lost to Taylor Hicks on the show's finale, and whose first single will be released June 27, has dropped 30 pounds as a result of the "intuitive eating" approach she learned at the center.

"I learned that there's no such thing as a bad food. If you look at a doughnut, people think it's a fattening food... why? Because if you eat it you'll get fat? No, you'll get fat if you eat 10 doughnuts," she said.

While she has made great strides in conquering her eating fears, McPhee admits she's still coping with how to best handle stress.

"I still bite my nails," she said.

Katharine McPhee can't go anywhere without causing a stir these days.

People Magazine reports that after attending a recent Broadway show, the 22-year old starlet was mobbed by tourists. McPhans, if you will.

"I try to look at it as, well, we're all hot right now, but let's remember that this is a dog-eat-dog business and it could all go as fast as it came. I just keep that in mind," McPhee said.

Humility is healthy, but it's doubtful McPhee will be fading from the spotlight anytime soon, with a new record contract under her belt and two singles -- her original song "My Destiny" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" -- coming out on June 27.

She will be on tour with her fellow American Idol finalists beginning July 5. Katharine is also going to begin working on her full length debut album soon.

"Definitely, it'll be pop," she told People regarding her upcoming CD at the Brooklyn, N.Y., launch of the new Princess Cruise luxury liner. "It'll be on the radio, on the Top 40 charts hopefully." Stay tuned.