Us Weekly Magazine - Celebrity News

American Idol Finalist

Top-Selling Artist

Her new album:

"I'm not even talking about that...I'd love to tell. I'm going for contemporary, for Top 40 stuff. That means a lot of things. A lot of people are expecting me to put out a Celine Dion-type album. I'd like to have aspects of that, but those albums don't sell very well."

Her first big purchase:

"I bought a car! I only got to drive it for one day. I bought a BMW 525 in gunmetal silver. It's something I'm very excited about and bought myself!'

Her famous high school connection:

"[Rachel Bilson] was a senior when I was a freshman. We were friends, but we didn't get to hang out. I was only 14 when she was probably 18. I was in the spring musical with her, [but] I was the only freshman in the musical. I sat next to her every night putting on my makeup. She would let me borrow her makeup, and [that] always made me feel so special. She was so sweet to me."

Her favorite Idol winner:

"I just watched Carrie Underwood's new single, "Before He Cheats," and she looks so good! She's coming into her own. She looks sexy! I'm really proud of her. I was a fan of her before, but she's really hot and sexy right now. She's topping the charts!"

See Katharine's performances on American Idol

"[A year ago] I didn't know how I was going to be able to pay for school or whatever. It's so incredible. Even if this whole thing doesn't work out, singing, at least I know I'll be comfortable for the rest of my life."