After her early solo recording career brought national attention, she became a founding member of Four Bitchin' Babes, performing and recording with them from 1990 to 2001 and then resuming her solo work.
McDonough wrote her first song at age 11 and had her first record deal by the time she was 14, securing the deal after winning a local "Big Break" talent contest sponsored by local radio station WLS.
By age 17, she was the opening act for John Denver at Carnegie Hall.
She wrote and performed a one-woman cabaret show, An Interesting Bunch of Gals, in which she pays tribute to eight artists who influenced her, including Édith Piaf, Billie Holiday, and Joni Mitchell.
In 1993, McDonough also played the singing voice for actress Jennie Garth during the performance of the song Timeless Love in the made-for-TV movie Danielle Steel's Star.