The couple married in 2019 and share a 5-year-old son.

Sara Foster defends dad David Foster, 76, and stepmom Katharine McPhee, 42: ‘This is not some child bride’

The couple married in 2019 and share a 5-year-old son.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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July 1, 2026 1:21 p.m. ET

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Sara Foster, Katharine McPhee, and David Foster. Credit:

Kevin Winter/Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

- Sara Foster is defending her dad, David Foster's 35-year age gap with his wife.

- The 76-year-old has been married to actress Katharine McPhee, 42, since 2019.

- "This is not like some child bride," Sara argued, shutting down people who take issue with the age difference. "She is in her 40s."

Sara Foster is tired of hearing other people's opinions about her dad's marriage.

The *90210* actress, 45, had only good things to say about her 42-year-old stepmother when reflecting on dad David Foster's marriage to Katharine McPhee.

"She's really amazing. I have to tell you, she really is," Foster said on the June 30 episode of Kristin Cavallari's *Let's Be Honest** *podcast. "It's not easy coming into this family. And they've gotten so much s---."

Indeed, the 35-year age gap between the *American Idol* alum and the famed composer has been the subject of intense discourse since they publicly launched their relationship in 2017.

"Everyone has an opinion about something," Sara complained. "And you know what? They're like 12 years in, and they are happy."

Katharine McPhee and David Foster in 2024.

Amy Sussman/Getty

As for the criticism, Sara argued that the couple has made a great match, and emphasized that despite other people's opinions, McPhee is a grown woman who can make her own choices.

"She's a fully consenting lady," she said. "This is not like some child bride. She is in her 40s."

McPhee and Foster married in June 2019 after first meeting in 2006 on the set of *American Idol *season 5. Together, they are parents to son Rennie, whom they welcomed in February 2021. Foster is additionally a father to five daughters — Sara, Erin, Jordan, Allison and Amy.

Sara, who herself shares daughters Valentina, 15, and Josephine, 10, with her ex Tommy Haas, pointed out that children pose another challenge to McPhee entering their family.

"I think it's hard being a stepparent. I think you want to ride the line of wanting your partner's kids to like you and wanting to show up as a motherly figure," she explained. "But you also have to have respect for the biological mom."

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In that regard, Sara noted that while it's "a tough balance," McPhee strikes it "really well."

When Cavallari asked Sara whether McPhee has served as a motherly figure for her, the *Barely Famous *star pointed out, "I *am* older than her."

"I look at her as a sister, but like she *is* my stepmom," she continued. "She's my dad's wife, so I think it's normal for her to come in and kind of take over in certain [situations] — and she really doesn't do that."

Since they first sparked dating rumors in May 2017, Foster and McPhee have not shied away from defending their relationship amid criticisms of the age difference, repeatedly articulating that they've found happiness together.

“We genuinely love and respect each other and have for a very long time,” McPhee said of Foster in a 2018 interview with PEOPLE. The couple explained that while they met back in 2006, their relationship began on friendly terms. Foster served as a mentor for McPhee during her time on *American Idol,* and when she finished the show as a runner-up (losing to winner Taylor Hicks), Foster helped to produce her first single.

David Foster poses with his daughters, granddaughter, and wife Katharine McPhee Foster in 2025.

Bruce Glikas/WireImage

“She didn’t catch my eye on the first day because I was so busy trying to do my job,” Foster told the outlet. "But, the reality is that in the last 12 years I’ve always had a connection with her.”

McPhee added, "There are just a lot of things when you look at the history of our relationship, neither of us could have written it. I would never have imagined that this would be our future together.”

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Despite fending off the discourse, McPhee has also kept a light tone about all the commentary, finding funny ways to clap back at trolls on social media. In a January 2024 TikTok, she used a soundbite from Kim Kardashian to make fun of their critics.

The clip sees McPhee gazing into a mirror as overlain text asks, "Why'd you marry David Foster...?"

She responds by lip-syncing to a much-membered Kardashian quote: "Because it's iconic," she mouthed. "And I love to do iconic s---."

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