Well, she might not have won “American Idol” last year, but I have to say that Katharine McPhee is a decent singer.

On her debut CD, Katharine McPhee (RCA Records) displays a good vocal range for someone who is a California native.

With the song, “Over the Rainbow,” McPhee soon became a television star and, as Simon Cowell expressed, she did have her moment. Out of the 12 tracks from the album, she has the staying power of a star.

Perhaps you think or feel that she wasn’t good enough for “American Idol” but I do think she has the making of a star.

The fact that she was able to talk about her anorexia and her continued battle with weight has proven that she is only human. But that’s besides the point.

Being that it seems that everyone has an album coming out after ‘Idol’, McPhee’s is a good one to pick up for the simple fact that she has a voice that she must share with the public.

I don’t mind that the album has an R&B quality sound to it and she does show or, in this case, hear some swagger, that is opened up by McPhee.

I say that if your mother can get attention because she is a vocal instructor, the star is within you and that is what McPhee has.

Now, all she has to do is just be as good as former “American Idol” winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood and she will be on her way.

The slickly produced opener “Love Story” displays a certain swagger, and “Not Ur Girl” and “Open Toes” follow it up with still more spunk and attitude.

If there’s a crisp, smartly maneuvered Christina Aguilera-meets-Beyoncé-and-Mariah sensibility at work in those songs, the ballads belong to McPhee alone.

Two songs to listen to are “Love Story” and “Dangerous” because McPhee is pushing herself to be great and she is.

I love the songs all together as well as the album. However, you might disagree but then again, you, the fans of “American Idol,” those people of more than 30 million, made her one of your finalist who competed against Taylor Hicks.

But what ended up happening was “Somewhere over the Rainbow” made her a star on TV; “Ordinary World” and “Better off Alone” have the staying power to make her a star in music.

That will only continue if she releases another album like this. As in the end, people got ‘McPheever’ and so will you. So, pick up the album.