'Smash' soundtrack set for release

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., April 3 (UPI) -- NBC and Columbia Records say the soundtrack from the first season of the American musical series "Smash" will be released next month.

Due out May 1, the album will feature Katharine McPhee, Megan Hilty and other cast members performing the original music created for the show's narrative and for the musical-within-a-musical. It will also include some of the pop tunes adapted for the series, such as Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful."

Produced by Steven Spielberg, "Smash" already has been renewed for a second season. It co-stars Debra Messing, Tom Levitt, Jack Davenport, Raza Jaffrey, Brian d'Arcy James and Jaime Cepero.