Katharine McPhee gained fame as runner-up on the fifth season of the FOX reality show American Idol, narrowly losing out to Taylor Hicks. She will star in her own primetime gig, when the new musical drama Smash debuts on NBC.
The pilot was shot in New York City in early March 2011 at a cost of $7.5 million. The storyline features a group who come together to put on a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe, while dealing with their own personal baggage. McPhee’s character is vying for the role of Marilyn.
The cast of characters includes: Debra Messing, Brian D’Arcy James, Christian Borle, Jack Davenport, Megan Hilty, Angelica Huston and Raza Jaffrey.
The network’s strategy is to pair up the new show with their surprise summer hit The Voice, when it begins its next season.
Katharine, 27, married Nick Cokas, 46, at Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church in February 2008. Their wedding photos were stunningly gorgeous.
Check out a preview, featuring McPhee singing Christina Aguilera’s hit Beautiful below:
Photos: WENN, NBC-Smash