Kellie Pickler has been friends with Katharine McPhee since they both competed on American Idol in 2006 and a source exclusively tells In Touch the embattled country singer has been leaning on her friend as she continues to battle the parents of her late husband Kyle Jacobs in court. 

“Kellie is going through hell right now, not only is she still mourning her husband, she’s in this never-ending court battle with his parents,” the insider says. “Katharine feels awful for her, she’s been checking in on her and offering to help anyway she needs.” 

During American Idol’s season 5 run, Kellie, 38, and Katherine, 41, grew close while competing against each other. Katherine would ultimately finish as runner up for the year, while Kellie placed sixth overall, though both would go on to sign record deals that same year and spin up their music careers. Even though the former lives near Los Angeles and the latter had been making her home in Nashville until recently, they made a point to stay connected after the show ended.

“They haven’t seen each other in ages but they never lost touch, and Katharine is trying to help any way she can,” the source adds. 

Kellie’s songwriter husband Kyle died by suicide in February 2023 at the age of 49, shattering the “Red High Heels” singer’s world and pitching her against her in-laws, Reed and Sharon Jacobs, in a dispute over his estate. As co-administrators of the estate, Kyle’s parents requested his widow return some personal belongings — including his gun collection, watches, jewelry, musical instruments and more — that they claimed she had possession of. She denied having any of the items, with her lawyer adding that the “right, title and possession,” of the effects “are disputed,” and responded by filing a claim in court that the parents had removed certain items from her home without her knowledge or consent. 

Earlier in April, Reed and Sharon also filed a subpoena to the Harpeth Memorial Gardens Funeral Home & Cremation Center, where Jacob’s body was cremated, for more details about the funeral and what belongings were cremated along with him. The funeral home has so far reportedly refused to comply with the legal request, but has not filed anything in opposition.

As the war wages on between Kelly and her late husband’s folks, the source notes her old friend Katherine has been nothing but understanding and supportive throughout the process. 

“Katherine has a standing invite to come for a visit and stay with her whenever she wants,” the insider continues, “So far Kellie hasn’t taken her up on the offer, but she’s promised that when she’s feeling more like herself, she’ll pull the trigger and book the trip.” 

“In the meantime, Katharine is doing her best to be supportive long-distance,” the source says. “She’s sending sweet text messages to let Kellie know she’s thinking of her and even flowers here and there to brighten her day.” 

“She can’t imagine the pain Kellie’s suffering, she and Kyle were so in love, to lose him the way she did and to now be at war with his parents, it’s beyond heartbreaking.”