  Taylor Hicks & Katharine McPhee |
Don't tell Katharine McPhee she's cocky.
The American Idol finalist, who's come under fire lately for smiling when Elliott Yamin was voted off, being too confident and talking back to the judges, says she's simply misunderstood.
"Still at this point, Top 2, I don't think that I'm going to win. It's anybody's game and I've always thought that from the very beginning," says McPhee.
While McPhee claims she doesn't think she'll beat silver-haired Taylor Hicks to become this season's Idol, it may just be part of her master plan to win.
She says she's going to dress sexy, pick good songs, sing well and "be modest" on finale night.
"I think the fact that I have not ever stated (I'm going to win) ... is why I'm still here," she says.
Tonight, McPhee and Hicks will each sing three songs, two from past performances and the new American Idol single, before viewers are given one last chance to vote.
While McPhee, 22, who is young and beautiful, seemed a more likely choice when the Top 12 was announced, Hicks is now the favourite to win.
Not only has he never landed in the bottom two or three, the 29-year-old soul singer has become as famous for his grey hair and crazy dance moves, as he has for his incredible voice.
Despite that, Hicks also believes it anyone's game.
"It's going to be a very close race to the finish line. (Katharine) has amazing vocal runs -- she's had some great moments on the show. We'll just see what happens."
Hicks may not be as marketable as McPhee, but he's confident he'll have a successful career in the American music industry -- win or lose.
"In this business, I have been denied many times. I'm going to be musician and soul singer for the rest of my life."
And fate, he adds, may have had a huge part in making sure that is going to happen.
"I was in New Orleans the night before hurricane Katrina hit. I called (the airlines) and told them I was in the path of the storm and I was leaving, so they gave me a voucher for a free ticket anywhere," he says.
"I ended up getting a ticket to Las Vegas (his audition city), which lands me here.
"It's very interesting how stuff works."
The American Idol finale kicks off tonight at 9 p.m. on Fox and CTV followed by the two-hour results show tomorrow at 9 p.m.
