Katharine McPhee
on gummy bears, Kris Jenner, and what travel has taught her about perspective
Singer, songwriter, and actress Katharine McPhee, who in 2006 was runner-up on the fifth season of “American Idol,” has toured the world extensively in the past nearly two decades. So when asked about where she would like to travel most, she replied — emphatically — “straight to my bed and home and not leave for a week.” But for now, she is on a national tour with her husband, composer and music producer/industry executive David Foster, that makes stops at the Providence Performing Arts Center on May 12, The Cabot in Beverly on May 14, and The Music Hall in Portsmouth, N.H., on May 15. “I haven’t really toured in this part of the country too much, so I am looking forward to it,” she said in a recent phone call. “I love being in different parts of the country and seeing how different the audiences are — and often being surprised.” McPhee, 40, said that while there are “challenging” aspects to being on tour with one’s spouse, she and Foster, 74, with whom she shares a 3-year-old son, Rennie, “get on great.” Having said that, she added that coming off of the “An Intimate Evening with David Foster & Katharine McPhee” tour, they both enjoy their “down time … enjoying basic things like cooking a meal and watching TV together.”
McPhee, who attended the Boston Conservatory (now Boston Conservatory at Berklee) for three semesters and who in 2018 made her Broadway debut starring as Jenna in the musical “Waitress,” said that the current show features a variety of musical genres, a fair amount of storytelling, and even some occasional bickering. “It’s a pretty spontaneous evening,” she said. “And it’s a really good time.” We caught up with the Los Angeles native, who still calls LA home, to talk about all things travel.
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go? I travel so much these days that I would travel straight to my bed and home and not leave for a week.
Do you prefer booking trips through a travel agent or on your own? I prefer booking through a travel agent. It’s very overwhelming looking at flights.
Thoughts on an “unplugged” vacation? It’s a good idea in theory, I guess. But I’ve never tried it. I like to know what’s happening in the world and with my loved ones.
What has been your worst vacation experience? A couple years ago on Christmas Day, traveling to Hawaii with my husband, 10-month-old, my mom, and [a] friend, the flight was delayed — but they had already put everyone on the bus to go to a different terminal and then ended up not having an actual gate so they put us on this bus and went clear across to the other side to go to a terminal where we had to stand on the tarmac for more than an hour. It was very cold and there were no bathrooms, no food … not how we wanted to spend Christmas. But we were able to find some humor in it and laugh a bit. Oh, and then once we did get on a flight and finally got Rennie to sleep, David got up to get something out of the overhead compartment, and when he closed it, he woke up our son. He was awake for the rest of the flight.
What is your favorite childhood travel memory? Going skiing with my mom, dad, and sister. Skiing takes a lot of effort — especially with kids. But it’s such a gift to have something to do all toHaving a child now I appreciate it so much more. We would mostly go to Mammoth and make a real road trip out of it. I remember stopping in a town called Bishop and always going to the same bakery every time. Great memories.
Do you vacation to relax, to learn, or for the adventure of it all? Typically, I vacation to relax and see and experience some culture and eat great food.
What book do you plan on bringing with you to read on your next vacation? “Elon Musk,” a biography written by Walter Isaacson. I’m a fan of his [Isaacson’s] storytelling in previous biographies.
If you could travel with one famous person/celebrity, who would it be? Kris Jenner. She seems like a blast.
What is the best gift to give a traveler?
RIMOWA lightweight suitcases. They are the best.
What is your go-to snack for a flight or a road trip? Not specific for me. I like all the fun junk like gummy bears and chips.
What is the coolest souvenir you’ve picked up on a vacation? Any piece of jewelry I love because it reminds of me where I was.
What is your favorite app/website for travel? Abercrombie & Kent.
What has travel taught you? That your worries and life are so small in comparison to the whole world. Your life holds the same value as anyone else’s, so don’t sweat the small stuff. And you can also go somewhere and start over if you wanted.
What is your best travel tip? Pack light. Plan out your looks for each day.
JULIET PENNINGTON