Katharine McPhee still absent from ‘Idol’ tour

Does McPheever still have a fever?

The “American Idol” Season 5 runner-up — who July 5 blamed severe bronchitis and laryngitis for her inability to perform — was still conspicuously missing from the “Idol” tour Thursday.

The other “Idols” — winner Taylor Hicks, 2nd runner-up Elliot Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Paris Bennett, Kellie Pickler, Ace Young, Mandisa and Bucky Covington — didn't seem to suffer from her absence.

“At the souvenir stand there were three tees for sale,” Access Hollywood senior field producer Tara said. “A collage of all the finalists, a Katharine tee and a Taylor tee. In the 15 minutes that I waited in line, not one Katharine shirt was sold. Taylor and team idol tees were flying off the racks.”

Tara, who hit the show with her daughters, Grace, 4, and Layla, 2, said Katharine wasn't mentioned on stage until about a quarter of the way through the show.

“Katharine has laryngitis,” said smooth-scalped singer Chris Daughtry, causing a minor commotion. Chris, Ace, Bucky and Elliot (but not Taylor) then sang a song for Katharine.

Specifically, “Patience” by Guns ‘N Roses.

“All the while, a black-and-white montage of Katharine played on the video screens,” Tara explained. “There wasn't a real reaction when it was announced that she wasn't going to be there, but when her image came up everyone did cheer. That was the only time she was mentioned.”

Chris proved very popular amongst the gals in the audience.

“On the shuttle bus ride over to the show, the talk was Chris!” Tara said. “Signs displaying [the fans’] devotion were written in colorful markers ... even homemade T-shirts, one 9-year-old shirt read: ‘Chris will you marry me.’”

“Idol” host Randy Jackson gave Access Hollywood his take on what's going on with Katharine.

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“Singing a lot every night or every other night takes a wear on these kids,” Randy explained. “So she's just trying to get her tour legs underneath her, but she'll be fine.”

McPhee's doctor ordered the singer to remain silent and in a statement, Katharine, 22, said she was disappointed but “I need to follow my doctor's orders to recuperate and reunite with the rest of the ‘Idols.’”

But this isn't the first time that Katharine's health has been an issue.

Just months before dazzling America with her vocal abilities, Katharine was literally destroying them by purging, according to People magazine.

"Katharine McPhee had a very tough time with bulimia, throwing up to seven times a day,” People magazine's Julie Jordan told Access. “Right before starting ‘American Idol,’ Katharine went in for treatment for the eating disorder, which she had already been battling for five years.”

Despite the latest doctors orders for “total bed rest,” Katharine was spotted frolicking in a pool with her boyfriend on July 2.

Which leaves some people worried that the sultry singer isn't taking care of herself the way she should.

“Who is too say, what is up with Katharine,” Tara said. “Without doing a throat culture ourselves we may never know.”