Who Does Katharine McPhee Think She Is?

So, Katharine, what did you draw for your self-portrait?
It’s a bunch of hearts. On this American Idol tour, I’m always bored, because it’s such long hours. And I always end up drawing hearts on myself — on my hands or my palm. It’s really soothing. Or I’ll write “I ♥ You” on my middle three fingers. Then I’ll walk around, and if I feel like saying “I love you” to somebody, I’ll just hold up my hand.

You show the fingers to people you know, or to strangers?
People I know, but people who wouldn’t feel comfortable if I said, “I love you.” It probably weirds out some men. Because they’re like, “She loves me?”

So why do you get bored on tour? Is it because you only sing for about 30 minutes a night?
People always ask us, “Aren’t you guys just having so much fun?” And we’re like, [half-hearted] “Yeah.” But the good outweighs the bad. Even if I think to myself, “Oh, man, I gotta sing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ again?” I see the little faces smiling at me and they’re all excited, so it becomes new to me.

What personal habit do you have that other people find annoying?
[Laughs] I can be very childlike. If I’m in a silly mood, I talk in this baby voice.

Let’s hear the baby voice.
No!

C’mon! Let’s hear it.
I talk to the girls when we’re doing hair and makeup: [In baby voice] “Oh, baby, come on. I love you, lover.” Just stupid shit like that. Paris Bennett was upset because someone had eaten her crab cakes, and I was like, “Oh, baby, don’t worry. I’ll make you a sandwich, little munchkin.”

Wow. That is annoying.
Actually, people think it’s funny. I do it to have a good time, to make fun of life. But if I do it too much I start to annoy myself.

Ever been fired from a job?
No. I was a hostess, a catering manager, I worked in retail, I was a nanny for two different families. And I was a good nanny.

Did you ever want to smack the kids?
Oh, sure. [Laughs] Of course. They always get out of line.

Who were you in a previous life?
The first thing that comes to mind is a psychiatrist or a therapist. I think an entertainer’s job is to heal. That’s what artists do, and what doctors do too.

Have you ever seen a therapist?
Yeah! I’ve seen many therapists. I started when I was 17, and I still do. Self-help, personal growth, pain, family struggles — it never goes away.

What are you like when you’re drunk?
I’m silly times, like, a hundred. Other than a few bad nights in college, I don’t really get out of control. Nobody likes to barf. To me, that’s not fun.

When was the last time you barfed?
I don’t think people want to read that. [Laughs] I’m supposed to be the sweet all-American girl from American Idol.

But is that really who you are?
I’m a sweet girl. But I definitely have edges, and I like to have fun. OK, here’s the story: I went to The Boston Conservatory, this really strict performing-arts school, and a friend and I decided one night that it was time to rebel. So we got pad Thai and these really cheap jugs of red wine. I just remember barfing all night long. I would wake up and I would already have barfed, and I didn’t even know I was barfing. And to top it off, everything was just bright purple. Like, the pad Thai noodles were purple.

OK, we’ve heard enough now. What do people who don’t like you say about you?
Non-fans say I’m overly confident or stuck-up. Or they say I’m a snob, because during Idol I would talk back to the judges. Trust me, I could’ve said a lot worse things. My dad always says, “You got a mouth on ya!”

Are you a good girl or a bad girl?
Both. I’m a big flirt. It doesn’t get me into trouble — well, maybe it does sometimes. But yeah, I just love men.

How many hearts have you broken?
Many. Jose. Definitely Alex: I done him wrong. Stepped on his heart and went on with another boyfriend. Alex, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry.

What would you like to have written on your gravestone?
Here’s the first thing that comes to mind: “A loved mother.” [She starts to cry] That makes me tear up. I’m young and I have this real wild spirit, I wanna run around and be free and have this boyfriend and that boyfriend. But when it all comes down to it, I really just want that foundation and that peace, and a baby on my arm.