Katharine McPhee

Katharine McPhee is an actress, model, musician, TV host, and writer. She was born on March 25, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in Sherman Oaks. Her career in the entertainment industry began in 2006 when she became a contestant on American Idol, finishing as the runner-up in the show's fifth season.

After American Idol, she released her self-titled debut album, which reached number two on the Billboard Top 200 and sold 378,000 copies. Her lead single, "Over It," went Gold in 2008. She also pursued acting, co-starring in the film The House Bunny that same year. Her sophomore album, Unbroken, was released in 2009. McPhee has been singing since age two. Her mother, a vocal coach, recognized her talent early and trained her. Her father worked as a television producer, and she has an older sister.

McPhee attended Notre Dame High School and later the Boston Conservatory, where she studied musical theater for three semesters. She left to return to Los Angeles for television opportunities. She has been open about her struggles with eating disorders, which began in her early teens. After seven years, she entered a rehab program in 2006 and has since spoken publicly about her recovery. She is 5'7" with an average body type, brown hair, and brown eyes. She has a tattoo on her left foot. McPhee married Nick Cokas in 2008. She is American, of Irish, Scottish, and German descent.