Proof That Katharine McPhee Should Have Been Cast in ‘A Star Is Born,’ Not Lady Gaga
Sure, you may be ready to put your paws up—but we're here to tell you to sit the heck down, because Lady Gaga isn't the ONLY pop princess-turned-actress who deserves award show buzz for her portrayal of a down-on-her-luck small town ingenue trying to make it big in show biz.
That's right, we're talking about the inimitable Katharine McPhee, who very much had her own real-life A Star Is Born moment when she competed as a finalist on American Idol back in 2006. (And okay sure, she's actually from Los Angeles and yeah, she technically lost the season to Taylor Hicks but... whatever! There are still parallels!!!)
Plus, have you seen Smash? The tragically short-lived, criminally cancelled NBC musical drama is basically, like, A Star Is Born meets Glee. McPhee's Karen Cartwright is totally Gaga's Ally, chasing her dreams of musical stardom while batting soul-wrenching insecurities and self-doubt away (and getting somewhat romantically tangled with an industry veteran in the process).
Don't believe us? Just watch this genius A Star Is Born/Smash (A Smash Is Born?) mashup teaser McPhee herself tweeted today. (The woman has taste.)
Katharine McPhee: Can sing. Can dance. Can act. A real-life music industry underdog/success story. Literally played a similar character in Smash. Can also belt "Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland—who starred in the 1954 version of A Star Is Born—like nobody's business.
Casting directors, you done messed up.
(J/K you guys, Gaga is a total queen and bona fide ~ * thespian * ~ and we can't wait to see her in A Star Is Born. But also, #JusticeforKatMcPhee forever.)