This is getting ugly.

First, Ruben Studdard was dropped from his record label. Then, the same fate befell Taylor Hicks.

Now, Katharine McPhee has parted ways with RCA after just one album, a 2007 self-titled affair that debuted at No. 2 on The Billboard 200.

The former American Idol finalist struggled to connect with a wide audience with her CD, which was led by the single "Over It." That track topped out at No. 22 on Billboard's Top 40 Mainstream chart and No. 29 on the Hot 100. The album has sold just 366,000 units in the United States.

As McPhee said last year, she quickly realized the art of the compromise when it came to record the album, fresh off the road from the "American Idols Live" tour.

For example, Katharine fell in love with two tracks from producer Ryan Leslie, but then they wound up not making the cut. "I'm learning that's the way it goes in this business," she said. "You give and you take."

Hopefully, fiance Nick Cokas can at least help to cushion McPhee's fall.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.