Next week’s (March 12) ‘Chemistry’ episode of ‘Smash’ finds Karen, played by ‘American Idol’ star Katharine McPhee, feeling down and out about struggling to make ends meet as a Broadway actress. In a bid to make some extra cash, the performer picks up a bar mitzvah gig, where she sings her troubles away with a cover of Florence + the Machine’s feel-good hit ‘Shake It Out.’ But you don’t need to wait until next week to hear the new cover … we’ve got the exclusive song premiere right here on AOL Music!

Apparently, Florence’s message really hits home for Karen, who has a revelation about her passion for performance, despite that whole “starving artist” thing. “Believe it or not, when I was told I was going to sing with a bar mitzvah band, I thought, ‘What could we do?’ Of course everyone thought it should be an old standard but the label and I put our heads together to think what might be very cool and also fun,” McPhee told AOL Music of the song selection process for the scene.

“We went through a bunch of songs and when I heard this last year, I knew we had to do it. Florence + the Machine’s record had not come out yet but we had heard the song and thought this would be amazing especially in this setting,” the singer/actress shared, adding, “So far this is one of my favorites.”

It’s one of our favorites, too! Listen to the ‘Smash’ rendition of ‘Shake It Out,’ and be sure to click over to both Katharine and Florence’s Sessions performances in our AOL Music studios!

LISTEN TO “SHAKE IT OUT” HERE

Listen to “Call Me” performed by Katharine McPhee, who portrays Karen Cartwright, from the upcoming Smash episode entitled “Callbacks“ that airs on Monday!

(via PopCrush)

EXCLUSIVE: Following in the footsteps of Fox’sGlee, NBC has signed a deal with Columbia Records for the soundtrack of the network’s new musical drama series Smash. Additionally, Columbia has signed a solo recording pact with Smash breakout star and American Idol alumna Katharine McPhee. I hear Columbia, which also handles the soundtracks for Glee and the upcoming X Factor, landed the rights to Smash after a bidding war. The deal, brokered by NBCUniversal TV Consumer Products Group, gives Columbia Records worldwide, digital and physical rights to the first season of Smash, with options to subsequent seasons.

(Read More at Deadline.com)