Katharine McPhee and David Foster's Secret to Raising a Respectful Son: Zero Tolerance for BS

Katharine McPhee and her husband David Foster may not always see eye to eye when it comes to parenting, but they do agree that their son, Rennie, should always prioritize kindness.

In an exclusive interview with We, while promoting her Radiance by ABSOLUTE™ X Katharine McPhee line, McPhee, 39, stated, "We have zero tolerance for any nonsense. Our main goal is for him not to become a rude individual. We want him to be kind, respectful, well-behaved, and true to himself while also being a well-mannered child."

The American Idol alum emphasized that she and Foster, who is 73 years old, are committed to establishing clear boundaries with their two-year-old son. She clarified that they have distinct methods of addressing these boundaries. She mentioned that she aligns more with the newer generation's approach, which involves gentle parenting, explaining, and practicing increased patience — a departure from the parenting techniques taught to the older generation.

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According to McPhee, she acknowledges that she tries to influence her partner's parenting style to align more with her own approach while still respecting his own methods.

The Smash alum, who tied the knot with Foster in 2019, expressed that her current challenge as a parent lies in changing time.

"It's quite amusing. Changing a stubborn 2-year-old is no easy feat," McPhee admitted. "To start with, he's incredibly strong, making it quite difficult. It's like attending an aerobics class. ... I mean, he has always been resistant to having his clothes changed. Sometimes it turns into a playful game, while other times it becomes a struggle. But honestly, who would have thought that changing clothes could be this challenging?"

Rennie has been challenging himself with daily wardrobe switches, while McPhee disclosed that their child is wholeheartedly supportive of her and Foster's music careers. In fact, she mentioned that their Christmas album, titled Christmas Songs, for 2022 has been continuously playing in their home, much to her annoyance.

"I genuinely don't play him my own songs just so I can hear myself all day long. But he has become completely obsessed with... our Christmas album," she stated, emphasizing that Rennie's favorite track is "I'll Be Home for Christmas". "He is fixated on our rendition. I attempt to introduce him to other artists' versions, but he adamantly refuses. Whenever he sees our faces on Spotify, he insists on playing it on repeat, over and over again."

McPhee, who will release part 2 of her holiday record with Foster later this year, admitted that listening to herself constantly in their residence is not ideal. "Having to hear myself throughout the day is not exactly what I had in mind," she humorously commented.

While the Broadway star may not enjoy hearing herself in surround sound, she is enthusiastic about her upcoming business venture, Radiance by ABSOLUTE™ X Katharine McPhee, which will debut on HSN on Wednesday, October 25.

The jewelry line was created with the goal of reaching HSN, and now that they have arrived, it is a pivotal moment for them. "HSN was always where I envisioned ending up," she revealed. McPhee expressed her excitement about the jewelry designs, stating that she designed them with her personal fashion choices in mind. She emphasized the importance of jewelry in achieving a feminine and cool look. "I love that effortless chic style that also gives off that cool girl vibe, where people admire your pieces and ask where you got them from."

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi