Fans first met Katharine McPhee on season five of American Idol, and the runner-up charmed audiences with her interpretation of songs like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and girl-next-door good looks. Her first solo album, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in 2007, only hinted at the extent of her talent—not only as a singer but as a songwriter. For her new album, Unbroken, McPhee co–wrote the majority of the songs with fellow singer-songwriters Paula Cole, Ingrid Michaelson and Rachael Yamagata, plus some of Nashville’s top songwriters at the urging of Universal Music Group chairman Doug Morris. When the newly blond McPhee isn’t singing and acting—she stars in the forthcoming romantic comedy You May Not Kiss the Bride—she enjoys hanging in her hometown of Sherman Oaks with her husband, Nick Cokas.

So you look a little blonder than when we last saw you.
I know, it’s true, it’s true. I was thinking about it when I was in House Bunny two years ago, but then after I made my record, I was almost finished with the music, I don’t know, I just kind of went for it. I am enjoying the playfulness of it for sure.

What were you going for with your new album?
I just set out to give a little more of a personal side of me, and kind of slow down the music a little bit. I didn’t want to make a superpoppy top 40 record this time, and I wanted to sing with a new label, which is much more of an artistic label, more of an adult label.

You worked with some amazing songwriters for this record.
I did. Paula Cole to me is such an icon with really clever ways to tell incredible stories. In high school I had all her records. On my first record I covered one of her songs, “Me,” and her manager saw me perform it. He contacted my management and said, “She did a really great job, and I just think that she and Paula would really connect.” I went to her little country home and we spent two days and wrote a couple songs—”Unbroken” was one of the songs I put on the record. Ingrid Michaelson, who is another buddy of mine, I was also fortunate to get to write with because I think she’s very clever.

And you’re still acting. You play the female lead in You May Not Kiss the Bride.
We had such a great time in Hawaii shooting it, and they put such an incredible cast together for this. Kathy Bates got to get in on the project, and Rob Schneider, so I had an incredible time. I’m the straight character out of everybody—everyone else is sort of these outlandish characters. I also got to guest star on Community on NBC, so I’m really excited for that to come out. I just shot that two weeks ago, it was a blast. I play Chevy Chase’s stepdaughter.

What are your favorite spots in the San Fernando Valley?
Well, I love Kings Road Cafe. There’s one on the West Side, but it just opened here. The Sherman Oaks Galleria is near my house and the ArcLight is there, so I just walk there and get my dinner and go see a movie. Curve is my favorite store in L.A., but I’ve been trying not to go there very much because I always spend way too much money. And then one of my favorite restaurants here is called Panzanella, it’s a really good Italian restaurant. I’m pretty simple. The things in life that make me happy are my dog, taking him to the park and going to restaurants, seeing movies and shopping.

Where do you like to check out live music?
I love to go to Hotel Cafe and check out little indie artists and stuff. That’s actually where I meet Ingrid Michaelson, so I’ll go if someone’s recommended or if a big artist is doing a surprise last-minute show there. It’s my music spot here in L.A.

Details
Curve 154 N. Robertson Blvd., L.A., 310.360.8008 / Hotel Cafe 16231/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, 323.461.2040 / Kings Road Cafe 12401 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, 818.985.3600 / Panzanella Ristorante 14928 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818.784.4400 / Sherman Oaks Galleria 15301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818.382.4100