Katharine McPhee News

Billboard.com reports that Katharine McPhee has begun recording her new studio album. The yet-untitled LP marks her debut with Columbia Records and the third non-holiday album overall.

According to NBC, the Season 2 finale of the musical drama SMASH will air on a special night and time. The two-hour episode is scheduled for Sunday, May 26 from 9:00-11:00PM ET.

'The Phenomenon' airs Saturday, May 4 at 9:00 p.m. on NBC. Check out a first look below!

NBC's musical drama series SMASH feautures a handful of well-known Broadway regulars acting as guest stars on this week's episode, with Daphne Rubin-Vega and Jesse L. Martin continuing their second-season arcs and Carolee Carmello and Kathie Lee Gifford making special appearances.

SMASH's pivotal upcoming musical sequence featuring 'The Goodbye Song' by Joe Iconis will apparently figure into this week's episode of the NBC musical series, as the track is now available for download on iTunes.

The once highly-touted musical drama series SMASH may have been unceremoniously moved to Saturday nights by its network in the wake of low ratings in its sophomore season, but some of the songs still linger in the memory on Monday mornings, it seems. Case in point: Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee's cover of the tune Made famous by Frank Sinatra, 'That's Life', has cracked the iTunes Top 100.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: MOTOWN opens on Broadwy, the Gyspy Robe gets passed on, BIG FISH is introduced to Chicago, and so much more!

NBC has announced the following primetime scheduling updates for Saturday April 20, 2013 - Sunday April 28, 2013:

Today we are talking to a charming and affable presence onstage and onscreen who has scored in a wide range of roles in the West End and throughout the UK from his work as Bobby in COMPANY to MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, MARGUERITE and many more to, now, starring in the Theatre du Chatelet production of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE in the title role, Julian Ovenden. In addition to revealing details about the Paris Sondheim production, Ovenden also offers thoughts on his Sondheim work in general. Additionally, Ovenden illustrates his impressions of two spectacular small screen ventures - essaying the role of JFK in the musical-within-the-series on SMASH as well as preparing to play a pivotal role in the new season of DOWNTON ABBEY. Most importantly, Ovenden shares his deep affection for the music of Rodgers & Hammerstein and discusses his participation in the stupendous RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN AT THE MOVIES and his continuing collaboration with master conductor John Wilson. Plus, Ovenden muses on potential future parts he would consider playing, shares details of his time in Maury Yeston's DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY Off-Broadway, working with Sarah Brightman on the new feature film 1ST NIGHT - and much, much more!

The 'Opening Night' episode of NBC's Broadway drama 'SMASH' (airing Saturday, April 20 at 9PM-10PM EST/PST) will include the Actors' Equity Association iconic Gypsy Robe ceremony, an honor bestowed to a member of a Broadway chorus with the most Broadway musical chorus or ensemble show credits. The Gypsy Robe ceremony takes place onstage just before the audience enters the theater on opening night.

A new duet featuring the two tremendously talented leading ladies from NBC's musical drama series SMASH has now been released with Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee joining up on a cover of the rousing slow-burner 'That's Life'.

Today we are talking to a uniquely gifted talent who has found a featured spotlight of late with some of his most celebrated tunes being included on NBC's musical drama series SMASH just as his new album project and series of 54 Below shows kick off this month - songwriter Joe Iconis. Illuminating the composition of, inspiration behind and depiction on SMASH of both the memorable “Broadway, Here I Come” as well as the forthcoming emotional coda “The Goodbye Song”, Iconis reveals facets of the moving melodies only the creator himself could possibly hope to provide. Additionally, Iconis explores many of the standout songs on the brand new Ghostlight album THE JOE ICONIS ROCK N ROLL JAMBOREE and the sterling host of talents involved with it. Also, Iconis shares details about what we can expect from his string of upcoming shows at cabaret venue 54 Below beginning April 15 through May 5 and the story behind his storied Family, including NEW NORMAL star Andrew Rannells (who appears at the April 15 54 Below show) and SMASH standout Krysta Rodriguez (who appears on the album. Plus, Iconis opens up about his many theatre projects, new and old, including an upcoming solo musical written expressly for Annie Golden and a Hunter S. Thompson biomusical, as well as reveals first news about a new production of THE BLACK SUITS. All of that and much, much more awaits!

After four weeks of online voting at makeamusical.org, five schools emerged as winners of NBC's "Smash" Make a Musical Constructed by Lowe's initiative. The winning schools will each receive a grand prize gift certificate to Lowe's to make renovations to their school theaters.

NBC has announced that it will air this Saturday's SMASH up one hour. The episode, titled 'The Dress Rehearsal' will now air at 8:00PM - 09:00PM. Encores of 'The Voice' and 'Saturday Night Live' will now follow at 9:00/8:00c and 10:00/9:00c, respectively.

Today, one week before Donna Summer's posthumous induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) releases Donna Summer ICON, a new single-disc collection featuring 11 of the legendary singer's biggest hits and fan favorites.

The first Saturday episode of SMASH on NBC on April 6th at 9 p.m. scored a series low 0.5 adults 18-49 rating, down 44 percent from Tuesday's 0.9 rating. Broadway legend Liza Minnelli guest starred as herself in this week's episode, titled 'The Surprise Party.'

'Opening Night' airs Saturday, April 20 at 9:00 p.m. on NBC. Check out a first look below!

Last week I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Broadway headliner and SMASH Season Two Breakout star Jeremy Jordan about a wide range of topics, covering the vast majority of his career thus far in anticipation of the upcoming New York Pops Stephen Schwartz concert event, THE WIZARD & I: THE MUSICAL JOURNEY OF STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, on April 12 at Carnegie Hall. So, today, in this all-encompassing conversation, Jordan and I discuss his preparation for the sure-to-be sensational Schwartz event and provides analysis and ideas on the songs he will be performing as well as Schwartz's oeuvre in general. Also, Schwartz reveals a plethora of information about Season Two of NBC's musical drama series SMASH and what we can expect from the series over the next several weeks as the drama heats up and HIT LIST hits the stage. Also, Jordan reveals preliminary information about the forthcoming feature film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's celebrated Off Broadway musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS, co-starring fellow Broadway/Hollywood crossover Anna Kendrick, and he shares some initial impressions of the project, as well as new details about what we can expect from the highly anticipated Richard LaGravenese-directed movie musical that is set to start shooting in June. Additionally, Jordan reflects upon his time playing Tony in WEST SIDE STORY under the direction of Arthur Laurents, in addition to remarking upon roles he would enjoy pursuing in the future, near and far, as well as much, much more!