'Smash': Katharine McPhee Previews Karen & Ivy's New Season 2 Rivalry

Courtesy Malaria No More

Plus, Katharine gushes over working with Jennifer Hudson, who joins the NBC musical in its second season.

If you thought Karen (Katharine McPhee) scoring the lead role in Bombshell would effectively put an end to rivalry with Ivy (Megan Hilty) on Smash, think again! ”There will definitely still be rivalry,” Katharine told HollywoodLife.com at the sixth anniversary benefit for Malaria No More on Nov. 8 in NYC. “We’ll see them pitted against each other in the future.”

One person Katharine’s character won’t be feuding with is Veronica Moore, played by fellow American Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson.

“It was really fun working with her,” Katharine said of Jennifer, who appears in the first three episodes of season two. “No one can sing quite like her. She’s incredibly focused when she’s on set. She has a great work ethic, and I really respected that. She brings a great energy to the show.”

As for what Karen will be like, following her rise to fame as the star of Bombshell, Katharine assured us there will still be plenty of off-stage drama in her life.

“You’ll see her in a position of power,” Katharine revealed. “But she quickly realizes that it’s not as easy a ride to the top as she thought it was.”

Smash‘s second season premieres Feb. 5 on NBC with a special two-hour episode.