Here it is, what we've all been waiting for, Kat's answers to the seven questions we voted on before Thanksgiving. Kat has finally gotten a chance to catch up on things now that the busy holiday season is over. The original questions are in italics followed by Kat's answer in bold.

Enjoy!

#4"Katharine, you have touched so many lives with your talent, presence, and charitable heart. Who has touched your life in a profound way and why?"
-Popi –

Hi Popi, wow, that is a difficult question because I have so many that have influenced my life. However, I am still young and probably someone who I never met actually has touched me deeper than anyone to date. I don’t mean to be cheesy or over emotional but I do the hospital visits with McPhee Outreach and Lollipop Theater Network, Rhythm of Hope. My first ever hospital visit was amazing. I was able to go room to room and meet so many kids. I had been emailed that there was this one 19 year old girl, not much younger than I am, that had been really sick but was supposed to be released, when she heard I was coming she asked the doctors if she could stay an extra day or two so she could finally meet me. Now this girl had been really, really sick but it seemed that she was going to finally get to go home. So at the end of my visit I turned to my escort and asked about her and wanted to finally meet her and they said unfortunately she had died the night before. I totally fell apart. I couldn’t keep it together and spent an hour on line with the website that had been set up dedicated to her. I wrote as many emails as I could and read through hundreds of emails and messages. Things changed that day for me. It is sooo easy to get caught up with what we do for a living or with what comes our way on a daily basis, and that is not to put down what we do, it is relevant, but when something like that happened, it gave me incredible perspective. You hear all the time how life is so fragile. It sounds cliché but it really is. When I sat and realized that this young 19 year old beautiful girl with her whole life ahead of her wanted to wait around to meet me, and yet she was not longer there, it blew me away. I think of her and her family a lot. They are incredibly strong faithful people and their grace and love in the midst of it all amazed me. And I never actually met her.

#11"Hey Kat,--You have performed many different types of songs, for a wide variety of audiences, in all kinds of venues..... All of this certainly proves how versatile you are! . What has been your favorite performance? .(which song?-- where was it? --and why was this your favorite?)"
-Linda (arden15) –

Hi Linda. Well I have to say without a doubt if I had to really decide, it would have to have been the Hollywood Bowl right after the end of the season when I sang with Bocelli. I grew up in LA and it was a dream come true to sing in front of all those people at the Hollywood Bowl. Thanks for asking Linda.

#13"What's your favorite song that didn't make it on your debut album? Who was it produced by? What style of song was it? And could you sing it for us in a video blog? Or even better...make it a Christmas present? The actual recorded version...is that possible? Oh and why didn't it make it on the record?"
-Joe in CA (sjwolves)-

Joe, well I really loved a couple of Ryan Leslie tracks. One was called “Somehow”. He was great to work with. Unfortunately the record label makes some of those decisions and they make choices based on what they feel are going to be hits. Believe it or not there are a lot of people behind the scenes that decide. They do not have easy jobs. Because of licensing rights, these songs will probably never be heard.

#14"Kat, you're constantly intriguing us with your personality. You easily crack us up with your silliness one moment, then tug at our heartstrings the next with a mere facial expression or beautiful vocals. I would like to know what makes YOU laugh hysterically, or cry in empathy. Name some guilty-pleasure movies that you turn to when you want to laugh unrestrained, or cry like a Sappy Sapperson. Please share any specific reasons - if any - why you are moved by these movies. (Just to break the ice, "Bad Santa," "Love Actually," and "Elf" always get me laughing, and " The Sixth Sense" "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," and "The Notebook" may or may not make me cry. )"
-Steve (mutt808) –

Well Steve, I think this won’t be news to a lot of people because the two movies that make me laugh and also make me cry, and two of my favorite movies that I have watched over and over, are Father of the Bride I & II and The Notebook. I bawl every time I watch The Notebook. Two people so in love, oh that makes me cry just thinking about it. I love Franc in Father of The Bride. That movie also makes me cry here and there with how much her father loves her and is connected to her and letting her go. Beautiful.

#17"As you probably already know, your fans absolutely adore your personality. It's certainly one of the many reasons why we all fell in love with you. So, I was thinking... we all have perceptions of personality - our own and what we believe friends and family think of us. But you also have a third aspect, which would be the fan perception. Please describe your personality as you see it, as you think your friends and family see it, and as you think your fans see it." -Bella from Brazil (bellamcphee)-

 Hi Bella. How are you? Well, this is difficult because do we ever really see ourselves as everyone else does. I really just try to be as happy and easy going as possible-not that I always am. I have insecurities like everyone else. I hope that people find me fun to be around and enjoy my company. I really try to surround myself with people that keep me accountable and let me know if I am not staying true to myself and treating everyone with respect. I hope that answered your question Bella. Thanks as always for your messages on My Space.

#18"Katharine, from the very first time I watched you perform you inspired me and still continue to do today. I definitely look up to you and you really have helped me not be afraid to follow my dreams. So Kat, my
question is, what advice would you give to those who are considering pursuing a career in singing and acting? What things have helped you to become a strong performer and reach your goals and dreams?"
-Smiley Chloe (2smileyidol2) –

Chloe, it sounds so cliché but I tell everyone to pursue whatever they dream of doing as long as you know you can be really good at it. That being said, there are so many forces that influence a career path-family, having to make a living, goals etc. I was very blessed that I had an opportunity through a TV show to get a “break”. The rest is really hard work and keeping up with my voice and acting and making sure that I can totally trust the people around me. It’s a very interesting world, entertainment business, so stay true to yourself and work hard on your gifts.

#1"Many of your fans fell in love with your voice right from your first audition. What was your reason for choosing the song God Bless the Child and what inspired your soulful interpretation of it?"
-Jasmine (nothlithawk777)-

Good question Jasmine. Actually I wish I had a good story behind choosing the song and how as a little girl blah blah blah. However, I really just liked it and sort of chose it last minute. I really didn’t even give it much thought. I heard it a few days earlier and was like, “I love that song, I am going to sing it”. It was like my first auditions for Idol-with the huge stadium audition. I didn’t really know what I was going to sing until I got to the table in front of the producers. I just went with what felt good in the moment.

Thanks for posting these, thanks to those who asked the questions and thanks to Katharine for answering them.

It is nice to see that Katharine is still the genuine, kind and thoughful person we first met over 2 years ago.

Keep on keeping it real Katharine and we look forward to more of your art, though the celebrity stuff is fun too. I'm glad none of this has gone to your head and that you don't take it too seriously.

I agree Groucho! And my daughter LOVES the Notebook. It is the ultimate chick flick! But I love that she loves Father of the Bride, one of my favs too!!

It is sad realizing we will never get to hear the Ryan Leslie tracks.

OMG!!! I like can't breathe! This is soooooooo cool!!! I don't even know what to say...I am just SOOOOO happy right now! Her answers are GREAT! She is so sweet and honest, and just so true in everything she says and does. I can tell she really put a lot of time into these and really wanted to give us sincere, honest and AMAZING answers! And I am definitly amazed now and everyday at how sweet and wise and just...how wonderful she is! I will always remember her answer to my question, and when ever I feel like giving up, or I don't believe in myself I will just remember the wise words Kat gave to me, and I know it will always keep me going. I hope she knows how much this means to us, and gosh, I hope she knows just how special she is.

How could anyone not just fall in love with this gal? She is just beautiful inside and out! She will find her way into the big world of entertainment ;just like she found her way into all of our hearts.

Thanks for setting up the Q&A's.

Yay! I've literally waited two years to know the answer to that question.

Katharine is a really special person, and I'm thankful to her (and you too Bill! ) for doing this. She's one of a kind, down-to-earth, heartfelt, and sincere. Even with so much going on in her life, she not only took the time to do this, but she did it well and didn't rush it.

awwwww Kat is sooo sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!! She truly is amazing and a sweetheart!!

Yes, as many have said before me, thank you SO much Bill for setting this up! And thank you to Kat for the truley wonderful answers!

AWWWW!! She's SO sweet.. And those questions Are great.. Kat must be very proud of her Phans..

Thanks Bill..

 Thank you Katharine, Bill, and everyone who submitted questions.  Great questions, and great answers from Kat!

That first story is so sad.

It's also sad that we'll probably never get to here those Ryan Leslie tracks, not that I'm comparing...

I don't know what to say.  Um, should have shuffled the first question to the end because it kind of made the rest of it all seem like whatever who cares?  But anyway...

She's been big on those Ryan Leslie tracks the whole time so it's really interesting that she chose one of them as her favorite not on the CD.  And I have to wonder about these people who pick the songs they think will be hits when...nevermind.  You just wonder sometimes but I'm sure those people know better than we do.

Interesting that she didn't really have a plan for her audition on Idol...probably fitting with what we know about her but from what she's said before about Idol, she kind of went to the auditions as a late minute (or days) kind of thing.  So...hmm, interesting!

Thanks Bill for getting this done for us.  And Katharine too of course...

Thanks Bill and many thanks to Katharine for responding. Lot's of CLASS in our girl!!