Katharine McPhee BIO:
Float Rider, Entertainer
Age: 22
Born: March 25, 1984
Hometown: Sherman Oaks, California
Katharine McPhee, American Idol's top female vocalist will make her first-ever appearance on January 1, 2007 in Pasadena, California for the 118th Tournament of Roses Parade. In another first, LifeSource Whole-House Water Systems will debut their first-ever entry , "Clean Water," upon which McPhee will perform. McPhee joins recently announced Grand Marshall, George Lucas. Entertainers she fo llows that have performed in the past include Grammy-award winners, LeAnn Rimes and Toni Braxton
McPhee as idol
McPhee was persuaded by then-boyfriend Nick Cokas and her parents to try out for American Idol. She auditioned in San Francisco, and sang "God Bless the Child", originally performed by Billie Holiday.
After the first round of Hollywood week, she sang "I'll Never Love This Way Again" by Dionne Warwick which earned favorable comments from the judges. During the second round, she performed in a group, singing "I Can't Help Myself" by The Four Tops, forgetting the words, but the judges decided to advance the entire group. During the third round, she sang a Capella of "My Funny Valentine" and advanced to the top 40. She was mad when fellow group member Crystal Stark didn't make the top 24. When she was told that she would be advancing, she kissed all three judges on the lips.
McPhee's run on American Idol led to the popular use of the term "McPheever", coined by Ralph Garman of Los Angeles radio station KROQ's morning show Kevin and Bean.
The inclusion of producer David Foster and singer Andrea Bocelli as guest mentors for Top 6 Week turned out to be a fortuitous introduction for McPhee, as she has worked on various music projects with both men post-Idol.
McPhee visited her former high school for her hometown celebration.[9] Antonio Villaraigosa visited Notre Dame High School and proclaimed McPhee's visit as "Katharine McPhee Day."
