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With her long dark tresses, Katharine McPhee ranked as one of Idol’s all-time beauties.

So fans are likely going to be a little shocked to discover that Kat has cut her hair much shorter and dyed it blonde.

The occasion: The announcement of the Oct. 6 release of her second album, of course.

Sporting her new look, Kat posed for photos for the current edition of People magazine. Here’s the link to the short story explaining her decision to go blonde. The new look matches her new music, she says. Meaning it’s a “little more edgy.”

Kat, of course, finished second to Taylor Hicks in Idol season five. And she’s the gal who was standing alongside Chris Daughtry in the bottom two the night he was eliminated.

Alas, Kat’s first album bombed. Album number two will be named “Unbroken.”

Hmm, should we read anything into the fact that the album release announcement focuses on hair color instead of music?

Here’s a link to Kat’s Web site, which now features the photo shown above.