Idol Scandal!!!

Do you remember seeing current American Idol Top 24 contestant Carly Smithson's record at your local Target or Wal-Mart?? Neither do I. But apparently a record did exist, and that has the bloggers buzzing with words like "cheating" and "scandal".....(OK, so maybe I'M the only one using the word scandal...but that doesnt make it any less true!!).

Along with needing the vocal chops to compete, contestants also have to follow a set of rules and guidelines set by AI producers if they hope to continue on the show. One of those rules is that no contestant may be "currently under contract"....."currently" being the key word. So the fact that Carly Smithson once had a deal with MCA records, into which they poured more than $2 million dollars but dropped her after disappointing record sales, doesn't count against her....at least not to show producers. But some Idol fans are feeling cheated.

Carly isn't the only one who has had dealings with the industry in the past. Kristy Lee Cook had a development deal with Britney Spears' production company but was given the boot. Michael John's band, The Rising, had a deal with Madonna's Maverick label but he, too, was given his walking papers. So what gives???

Part of the charm of American Idol is the idea that we are watching real rags-to-riches stories unfold before our starry eyes. Carrie Underwood may be a huge star NOW, but before AI she was just a farm girl from Checota, Oklahoma. It doesn't get better than that!! We root for the underdog, cus thats exactly what we want.....its a slightly less sweet tale when the winner of a competition of this caliber has been-there-done-that.

AI executive producers are downplaying this new "previous exposure" drama (what else would they do?!) but the Internet is making sure that the next time these hopefuls get up to blow us away with their talent, we will remember that the tiny AI stage isn't their first taste of the "professional" music industry....the only real question is, will it be their last??

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