Former American Idol finalist Katharine McPhee chats with her fans at Toronto's 'Canadian Idol' auditions.

The crowd at the Toronto auditions' outdoor concert included more than just those trying out for the show. Katharine McPhee, American Idol runner-up, performed singles from her latest album (Ken Regular / CTV.ca)

Stay true to your fans, McPhee advises potential Idols

Updated Fri. Apr. 20 2007 11:33 AM ET

Eye on Idol

Season 5 "American Idol" finalist Katharine McPhee has faced just about anything that could happen to a competitor in the Idol franchise -- from suffering through Simon Cowell's harsh criticism to losing the competition to a 28-year-old bar singer with a full head of grey hair.

If anyone's qualified to give guidance to potential Idol competitors, she certainly fits the bill.

Her advice?

Treat your fans with respect if you want to be anything more than a flash in the pan - especially when your success comes from a show where success or failure hinges on viewer votes.

"Be good to your fans and have fun," McPhee told thousands of competitors and fans on the first day of Canadian Idol's Toronto auditions. "Communicate with your fans and they will follow you."

McPhee elaborated on this after her performance at the auditions, saying she tries to remain accessible to the people who helped her make it into the international consciousness.

"When I go to different parts of the country, I know that Leah is in Texas and Melissa is in New York," she told Eye on Idol.

"I often recognize fans at my shows, especially the cities I've been to a lot... I think one reason people like Idol so much is that they can say 'I helped that person get to where she is now.'"

McPhee was part of a day of outdoor performances that kept Toronto competitors and members of the public entertained at Yonge-Dundas Square. She sang three songs from her debut album, including radio hit "Over It" and "Home," a ballad she described as a tribute to the fans who have been instrumental in her success.

And what success it has been. After finishing her run on "American Idol," her debut album sold 116,000 copies in its first week. She toured with famed tenor Andrea Bocelli, made a cameo on the online cult classic "lonelygirl15" series and played herself on the hit TV comedy "Ugly Betty."

Her seemingly ubiquitous visage reappeared in a different fashion recently, when the seductive photo from the cover of her album showed up online with her head replaced by that of Sanjaya Malakar, the current "American Idol" competitor known more for his luscious locks and stage presence than vocal talent.

McPhee laughed off the parody, adding she thinks the controversy surrounding Malakar's continued success has been a good thing for the show.

"I think Sanjaya's great, and it's good to have a different kind of a year," she said. "When you think about a lot of superstars, they've got a look, they've got a song, they've got something special about them. I don't think anyone's saying he's the most unbelievably talented person they've ever known, I think they're just intrigued because he's different... and has the most ridiculous hair you can imagine."

"It's good for the show. People may not think that now but he's in the papers every week."

After all, criticism from the judges can sometimes be a good thing, McPhee said, drawing a parallel to one of her own experiences on the show.

"When Simon said I was horrible and they all were in agreeance, it only made my fans more angry and driven to vote even more... I'm thankful for the ups and downs. It got me to the end."

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