Getting into the holiday spirit, Katharine McPhee was among the stars on hand for the 83rd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Thursday.
Born in Sherman Oaks (a Los Angeles neighborhood), McPhee has been singing since the age of two. Her mother, Peisha Burch McPhee, a vocal coach and accomplished cabaret singer, recognized a talent for music in her daughter
and started training her. Throughout high school, McPhee led an active life as student body vice president, a thespian, who, with her elder sister Adriana McPhee (born June 30, 1982), performed in many school plays, and was a varsity swimmer. She also took dance classes in high school, saying in a public interview that she hopes to be able to dance again after the Idol tour. McPhee then graduated in the class of 2002 from Notre Dame High School after which she attended The Boston Conservatory for three semesters majoring in musical theater. She left due to to her manager, who wanted her to try out for parts during the television pilot season in Los Angeles. She worked on a television pilot and an independent film which is slated to be released in late 2006.
While still in her late teens and early twenties, McPhee focused on an acting career, which she diligently followed after leaving the Boston Conservatory. In a People interview she says that she was rejected in only “195 out of 200 auditions”.[1] Even through the setbacks, the aspiring actress was able to snag a role as “Paramount Girl” in the musical film about the life of Hank Garland, Crazy, set to release in 2006. Other acting endeavors included lead actress in professional productions of Annie Get Your Gun and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. She was nominated in 2005 for the Theatre LA Ovation Award for her lead role in Annie Get Your Gun. McPhee was also part of a failed mall-based MTV soap opera entitled You Are Here, playing the older sister of a more popular younger sister.