American Idol 7’s “Top 24” seem way more exciting these days!! Already there’s major controversy brewing around one of the contestants. Do you happen to remember tattooed Irish singer Carly Smithson? yes, the one who apparently auditioned in 2004 but ended up not competing because she couldn’t get an American VISA in time for the show! Well, her demons from the past are starting to catch up with her! In the early 2000’s Smithson had a professional record deal with MCA under her maiden name Carly Hennessey. Apparently MCA spent millions to promote the album, which turned out to be a complete flop!

        American Idol’s producer Nigel Lythgoe responded by saying the following…

Carly has been around and, you know, has come to us. She’s had a recording contract in the past. She came to us a couple years ago. We thought she was terrific then. She did a Prince song and had really sent chills down us. And then we lost her, because of getting a VISA, and she’s overturned that now. I think she stands a very good chance this year. She’s already quite known by the public, which always helps a little bit, and she’s got a lot of talent, so we’ll see how she does.”

“This is a thing that comes up for some reason every year, and this year, ‘oh, they’re all professionals.’ Well, Kelly Clarkson had a contract, you know. From year one, all we say is that you have got to be out of contract now, but every year there’s been somebody that’s got a professional contract or even had an album out. So, no it doesn’t worry us in the slightest.”

          I guess the question is where people care or not?! Is it fair to the other contestants to have a professional competing with them? Do you think we honestly believe in second chances??? perhaps the other finalists will have an advantage on her due to the fact that we’ll expect more from Smithson!