On Thursday night, Katharine McPhee returned to the roots which led to her success as a singer when she collaborated with One Republic to perform the band's song If I Lose Myself on the American Idol results show.

The song is a track off the band's latest album, Naïve, which was released on Tuesday, March 26.


One Republic & Katharine McPhee - If I Lose...

by IdolxMuzic

McPhee, who finished runner up to Taylor Hicks on season five of American Idol, has since gone on to act on televisions shows such as Ugly Betty, Community, CSI: NY and as one of the stars of the current NBC series Smash, an appropriate show considering the plot revolves around an aspiring singer.

Thursday night was not the first time One Republic's lead singer Ryan Tedder had collaborated with the American Idol finalist. The duo previously performed Touch Me on Smash last season. The song was written for Kat's character on the show.

While appearing on Idol, McPhee, 29, became known for her striking looks, classic fashion sense, stylish clothing and the powerful voice she often laid over love songs.

In addition to her singing, the Idol contestant shared the painful story of her own battle with bulimia, a condition which she said she has suffered with since she was a young girl. She revealed that she was treated for the eating disorder while she was competing on the show.

She told People that at age 13, she began starving herself and exercising compulsively. McPhee gained weight in college due to her binging but, after seven years of illness, she finally entered a three-month rehabilitation program following a successful American Idol audition.

Her rehab stint concluded just before the Idol semifinals in 2006. She lost about 30 lbs during her time on the show due to eating better.

However, her star has risen since her battle with bulimia and other Idol contestants.

She has since found herself among the top 10 highest earning American Idol graduates, according to Forbes.

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Katharine mcphee, American Idol 2013