Just curious, but who is already on the market that is anything like her, whose music you would buy? As far as the "stage voice", something for show tunes, classics, etc., we haven't really had anyone like that since Bette Midler.
When Katharine is relaxed she has a very smooth alto sound that we haven't seen (heard) since Karen Carpenter. I may not be totally up on who's who in music today, but when I couldn't understand the words enough to sing along, I switched to country music... and yes, I CAN sing.
As far as David Foster goes, yes he has to find someone the public wants to buy and can learn a lot by watching who we vote for week to week. Getting it to sell can be done with creative marketing. Good points though.
I think there are some wonderful female singers around these days. I'll leave former AI winners out of it. In the country genre, I really, really like Gretchen Wilson. Faith Hill and Shania Twain are outstanding. In the pop genre, although I'm personally not crazy about her latest album, Mariah Carey is an icon. Natasha Bedingfield and Mary J. Blige are terrific. Mary J. Blige and Mariah are actually cross-over from R&B to pop.
Norah Jones, who's more pop/adult contemporary/jazz, is outstanding.
Anyway, that's a few names for you.
I deliberately didn't mention Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Diana DeGarmo from AI. All of them can sing rings around McPhee. Of course, that's just my opinion.
BTW, Katharine never saw the day she could sing as well as Bette Midler when the latter was in her prime. I just caught "The Rose" recently on cable TV. I don't like Midler much as a person, but my goodness, that woman could tear the heart out of you with her music.