American Idol '07

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Jan. 24, 2007 | 06:00 AM EST

Paula? Loopy? Katharine McPhee Says It Ain't So

By Lesley Messer

Photo by: PATRICK RIDEAUX / PICTURE PERFECT

Last year, she toured with Andrea Bocelli and sang at the White House. And 2007 is looking pretty good for American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee. She's kicking off the year with the release of her self-titled debut album (out Jan. 30) and a guest-starring part on the popular Web series Lonelygirl 15. PEOPLE caught up with the 22-year-old singer about the down-home side of herself, acting on the Web and the truth about Paula Abdul.

Have you been watching Idol this season?
Actually, I missed the first episode but I'm going to try to watch as it gets into the thick of the competition.

What do you think about all the criticism about the judges being especially harsh?
That's not my favorite part of the show. I think there's a point where you can get into personal attacks against people's physical appearances, which I don't necessarily agree with. I like more of the actual competition.

And people have been calling Paula loopy.
For me, it's completely untrue. In my experience with her – and I think everyone else can vouch from Idol – it's been very positive. She's always been really sweet and she'd always invite us to pick out jewelry from her jewelry line.

Are you in touch with any of your cast mates?
Kellie Pickler and I text message, and Mandisa. For the most part I think everyone's so busy and we'll probably catch up after the year has calmed down a bit.

Let's talk about your new album.
Yes! It's huge, it's really exciting. I'm just so excited about the overall style and how it all came out. Just the energy of it – a fun, up-tempo kind of girl-power record, and some of them are really good ballads, like "Love Story."

And you have an acting gig on the Lonelygirl 15 Web series. What made you want to do it?
I remember when I was watching TV and they were doing a special thing on Lonelygirl and I got really intrigued with it – (it was) a fun thing we could do for my fans to see a different side of me. So we went to them and asked if they'd be interested in having me on the show. It was really kind of a nice change of pace from the whole music stuff that I'd been doing.

McPhee with *Idol* judge Randy Jackson Photo by: Lester Cohen / WireImage

So what side of you are you showing off in this role?
Just the normal, everyday, jeans and T-shirt (girl) that you don't get to see all the time because of the awards shows. Just a more natural side.

Which side is closer to the true Katharine: the jeans and T-shirt girl or the one who's glammed up?
I think, on a regular basis, I'm more of a jeans-and-T-shirt kind of girl. I'm definitely a girly-girl and I like to get dolled up and dressed up – that's always really fun. Right now, I'm hair down, no makeup, in a little sweat outfit. It's what I feel most comfortable in.