Ryan Seacrest: (Intro part 1) Let's see what Katharine is performing. Watch...
Katharine: (To camera) The song I performed with Queen was "Don't Stop Me Now"...
Katharine: (Bopping on stage, accompanied by Queen) ¯ ...gonna make a supersonic man outta you ¯ Don't stop me ¯ Don't stop me.. ¯
Brian May: (To camera) She's got a lot of joy in her hasn't she. Got a big bounce to her, you know.
Katharine: (After performing with Queen. Jokey tone) It was a little rough. (Squeals) Thank you so much.
Katharine: (To camera) ..but I decided to change my mind to sing "Who Wants To Live Forever"...
Katharine: (Singing in rehearsal room) ¯ Who wants to live forever ¯
Katharine: (To camera ) ...and I just decided to change the song because instead of, you know, having an uptempo song I wanted to just stand there and sing and have it really simple and just about the voice, the lyrics, the music and um, and not so much about... (Smiles) ...you know, runnin' around the stage.
Ryan Seacrest: (Intro part 2 - Kneeling down next to Katharine's mom, "Peisha" in the audience) I'm with Momma McPhee now. (To Peisha) A change of heart? Hmmm? Will it pay off? (Ryan is holding Peisha's hands in his and rattling them) Why are you shaking so much?
Peisha: (Laughs)
Ryan Seacrest: This song was featured on the soundtrack to the movie "Highlander" in '86. With "Who wants to live forever" it is... (Looks up to Peisha) ...Your daughter... (To camera)... Katharine McPhee...
Katharine sings...
¯ There's no time for us ¯ There's no place for us ¯ What is this thing that builds our dreams, yet slips away from us ¯ Who wants to live forever ¯ Who dares to love forever ¯ Forever ¯ When love must die ¯ But touch my tears with your lips ¯ Touch my world with your fingertips ¯ And we can have forever ¯ And we can love forever ¯ Forever is our today ¯ Who waits forever anyway ¯
(Cheers and applause)
Randy Jackson: All right, so yo. It was good to hear... It was good to kinda hear you switch your song. I think that was probably a good idea. It was a good idea you switched your song, to kinda return to the form, 'cause like this is your element. I mean a little Broadway, big song, kind of big voice. It was a little pitchy in spots and I thought at some points it was a little big for you but you did a good job I think all in all. (Applause)
Paula Abdul: I love when I see an artist make a choice to change their mind and you made the right decision to just to stand there and be glorious with your glorious voice. I mean it's the song that big singers like Celine and Barbra Streisand take on and you Katharine McPhee can handle it and you did a great job.
Katharine: Thank you. (Cheers)
Simon Cowell: Katharine, I mean that... that was almost the moment. You know, I agree with Randy, I think there were some tuning problems at parts. I think you...
Katharine: (Joking) Nothin' a recording studio can't fix.
Simon Cowell: ...you... you owe a big kiss to the director and the lighting director there, because they made you look amazing.
Katharine: Thank you. (Joking) I know, I do! Thank you guys. (Laughs)
Simon Cowell: Uhm, I mean, really good. But overall I think it was probably one of the strongest tonight. Yeah. Very good. (Cheers)
Katharine: (Looks surprised) Thank you.
Ryan Seacrest: (Joining Katharine onstage) So it looks like that decision paid off.
Katharine: It did.
Ryan Seacrest: Come on over here. Let's get the votes. (Holding Katharine's hand in his) This is some of the sweat from your mother's hand, right there.
Katharine: Yay! (Waves) Hi mom!... (Giggles) ...Hi dad!
Ryan Seacrest: (Gives out the voting numbers) Good work Katharine, thank you.
Katharine: Thank you.