Carly Smithson (née Hennessy) (born September 12, 1983)-July 30, 2008 is an Irish rock/soul singer-songwriter and the sixth place finalist on the seventh season of the television series American Idol.

Early years

Carly (Hennessy) Smithson was born on September 12, 1983 in Dublin, Ireland to parents Marie Murray and Luke Hennessy TV Guide.^[1] After living 6 months in Dublin, Smithson and her parents moved to Johannesburg, South Africa. She lived there till they moved back to Dublin when she was 4 years old. She started singing at the age of 3 or 4 years old and knew at a young age she wanted to be a singer. She also has some experience with acting. She was the face for Denny's for three years, starting at the age of five. In 1990 she played Young Marianne in Fools of Fortune.^[2] 2 years later in 1992 she joined the cast of Les Miserables and starred as Little Cosette in Ireland. When Smithson was 10, she released her an independent CD: Carly's Christmas Album in the UK.^[2] When she was 14, her parents separated. A year later, Carly and her father moved to the United States in order for Carly to pursue a career in music.

Musical background

Before her marriage to Todd Smithson, Carly Smithson (as Carly Hennessy) released an album for MCA Records called Ultimate High in 2001. Smithson has stated that the album did not have the opportunity to find an audience, due to the record company's merger with a parent company. Though some established artists like Sheryl Crow survived the merger, yet-to-be-released artists did not; Smithson's album was released, but with limited promotion ^[3]. Consequently, it sold just 300 copies in the first three months.^[4] There were reports that MCA Records spent over $2 million on the production and promotion of Smithson's album. However, this $2 million dollar figure included production and publishing costs for songwriters and artists already being paid by MCA and not specifically relevant to Smithson's album.^[4] The album was released on November 13, 2001.^[4]

Following her success as Carly Smithson on American Idol, copies of "Ultimate High" are popping up on shelves of Borders Bookstores and Virgin Records stores.[citation needed] The album, and the music video for "I'm Gonna Blow Your Mind", is also available as a download on iTunes.[citation needed] For a brief period of time after Carly's elimination, the album made a peak in the Top 10 of Amazon's Top Selling Digital Albums, as well as being featured on the MP3 homepage.

Personal life

After Smithson's record deal dissolved, she decided to take a break from music.^[5] She met her husband Todd Smithson, a tattoo artist, in Los Angeles. They lived in Marietta, Georgia for a few years, where Smithson worked at an Irish bar called Fado. In a coincidental connection, Michael Johns (another American Idol contestant) performed weekly at Fado, under his real name Michael Lee. ^[6] In 2005, Smithson and her husband returned to San Diego, where they currently reside. Smithson, then, auditioned in Las Vegas for American Idol season 5; she was unanimously accepted, however, she was later disqualified because paperwork for her work visa was delayed. In 2007, she auditioned again for American Idol Season 7, once again making it to Hollywood, but this time having the proper paperwork.

Smithson has an older half-brother, Nik^[7] and a younger sister, Shannon.

Smithson currently lives in San Diego with her husband, Todd Smithson, the owner of Nothing Sacred, a tattoo shop where Carly also works (she has nine tattoos).^[7]

American Idol

Season 5

Carly Smithson auditioned for American Idol in Las Vegas during the show's fifth season; she made it to Hollywood but was disqualified because the paperwork for her work visa was delayed.

Season 7

Carly Smithson auditioned for American Idol at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium on July 30 and July 31, 2007. She advanced with a unanimous vote after singing "I'm Every Woman." Simon Cowell noted that he remembered Smithson from her Season 5 audition. In Hollywood, she sang Heart's "Alone" for her audition and received unanimous praise from Randy, Paula and Simon. Smithson was one of the first foreign contestants to make the Top 12 (along with Michael Johns, an Australian). Smithson was eliminated the April 23rd, 2008. Her final performance on American Idol was considered one of her best by the judges. Her final song was "Superstar" from the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" during Andrew Loyd Webber week.

Smithson successfully auditioned again for Season 7 of American Idol and made the top 24. Shortly thereafter, articles appeared in the mainstream press, criticizing her selection because of her previous record deal. Smithson acknowledged her previous record deal on the February 20, 2008 episode of American Idol, and stated that the record label 'imploded'.

Smithson was eliminated after performing Superstar from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar on April 23, 2008. The day before she was eliminated Simon Cowell stated, "I thought that was the best performance of the night so far." After Simon stated that comment, Smithson pulled out a t-shirt sent to her by her fans with a sign on it that says "Simon Loves Me (this week)."

After Ryan Seacrest announced the elimination Cowell said:^[5]

I apologize for giving you a compliment last night—kiss of death, but let me tell you, Carly, you can leave with your head held high.

On the final results show Smithson performed "She Works Hard for the Money" along with the other Top 6 female singers. She also sang a duet of Box Tops' "The Letter" with Michael Johns. Later in the show she performed a medley of "Faith", "Father Figure", and "Freedom! '90" by George Michael along with the other Top 12 finalists. She also participated in the group number that opened the show, "Get Ready," along with the other 11 finalists from American Idol (Season 7).

Smithson's fanbase names while on the show were the "Fighting Irish" and the "Smithsonians."

American Idol Controversy

Smithsons' 6th place elimination 'shocker' on April 23rd, 2008 prompted an unprecedented reaction, with angry bloggers questioning the popular program's credibility amidst reports from fans of busy signals throughout the voting period^{[8][9][5][10][11]}. One writer for Entertainment Weekly coined the show "America's Embarrassing Lapses In Judgement," saying "Carly Smithson was sent packing, despite a rendition of "Jesus Christ Superstar" that Jesus himself would have been hard-pressed to top" ^[12]. There were renewed claims of "fixing" and calls for the show to publish precise voting totals, resulting in a release credited to Fox and show producers: "The network and producers will not disclose voting tallies for the competition, as the release of such information would only serve to create additional rumor and speculation", conflicting with executive producer Ken Warwick's claim that they were open to scrutiny, quoted "No one is saying you can't look at them."^[13]

Smithson was also in the audience during the Top 4 contestants' performance, as well as the results show.

Another controversy involving Smithson is that Randy Jackson worked for MCA during the same period of time that Smithson was signed^[14][15].

Death

Carly has died early this morning at 6:00am PDT from a Tour Bus Accident According to reports she let out a big fart and distracted the driver and he crashed into a car.

Performances and results (during voting weeks)

• Template:Fnb Smithson was saved first from elimination.
• Template:Fnb When revealing the results, Ryan Seacrest simultaneously declared Smithson and Syesha Mercado safe.

Post Idol

After she was eliminated on American Idol, Smithson made appearances on Live with Regis and Kelly, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Sauce, Access Hollywood, Today, The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, Fox Morning Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and many others. In addition, many celebrities voiced disappointment about Carly's elimination, notably Kennedy, who said she was easily the best singer. Many other fans of the show were disappointed and suprised at Carly's elimination.^{[citation needed]}

During her appearances on Access Hollywood and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she sang "Alone" by Heart. She also appeared on Live with Regis and Kelly performing the song "Here You Come Again", which she had previously performed during the Top 9 Dolly Parton week.

Smithson mentioned on Entertainment Weekly's "Idolatry" that she had already received offers from multiple record labels. She has been quoted saying, "I am just so excited to make a record, to make music, to write songs. I'm so excited."

Carly Smithson was personally invited back to the Ellen DeGeneres show to perform. She performed two songs with Michael Johns on Ellen DeGeneres for her 10th anniversary show in Chicago on May 6, 2008. The songs were U2's "One" and Sam & Dave's "Hold On I'm Coming". ^[16][17].

Smithson stated, in a June 15 blog on her Myspace page, that "I have gained so much confidence from this experience", but she also noted that "[it] is very hard to continue believing in yourself when [you] are being judged through a microscope by the world on a weekly basis but having all of [my fans] behind me and believing in me has helped me get stronger each day. The one thing [I] have learned through this whole experience is that perfection is ugly. I found so many imperfections about myself in the past year that I didn't see before. I hated them and tried to cover them up. It took me a while to understand this but [my flaws] are part of my character and make me who I am. I have learned to embrace them and you should too."[17]

She has filmed a commercial with fellow finalists, Syesha Mercado and Brooke White.

Smithson is currently performing in the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008 from July 1, 2008 to September 13, 2008. She sings "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence, "Crazy On You" by Heart, and "I Drove All Night" by Cyndi Lauper.

Smithson will start making a record when the tour ends. She is currently writing material, while on the tour.

It is noteworthy that Smithson injured her hip at the end of the Rosemont, Illinois show on the American Idols Live! Tour 2008. She is recovering and will still be able to perform.

Discography

Albums

• Carly's Christmas Album (1993) ^[2]
• Ultimate High (2001) ^[2]

Singles

• "I'm Gonna Blow Your Mind" (2001)
• "Beautiful You" (2001)

Other releases

Beginning with the Top 12 show, all songs performed on American Idol were also recorded as "Studio Versions" and released exclusively on the iTunes Store.

1. "Come Together" – 3:35
2. "Blackbird" – 2:24
3. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" – 3:32
4. "Here You Come Again" – 3:05
5. "The Show Must Go On" – 3:32
6. "Without You" – 3:16
7. "Superstar" – 3:04

After American Idol finale, Carly Smithson sold 33,000 digital downloads in 4 days.

Filmography

• Fools of Fortune (1990)

Trivia

^[18] Carly has 10 tattoos including an unfinished geisha on her right arm, a cross on her back, her first tattoo, which she is planning on removing to make room for a phoenix on her whole back, her husband's name on her wrist, a gate from her mother's house on her other wrist, a wedding ring on her left finger, because she is allergic to metal, the word "Eire" (what her native country is called in its native language) on her lip, and a 7 (for AI Season 7) on her finger. She recieved the "7" while on the show and revealed it after the judging of her Top 11 week performance, "Blackbird."

Her husband Todd has many tattoos all over his body, including a Star Wars-themed leg.

Smithson wishes to duet with Annie Lennox.

Smithson loves to cook & clean. She is an excellent cook and can put together great meals from the leftovers in the fridge. The grossest thing she's ever eaten is "squid marinated in squid guts." Carly is very family oriented, saying one of her proudest moments is becoming a wife and that she would like to have big family and "be the best mom I can."

Carly Smithson stated that she was roommates with fellow American Idol contestant Amanda Overmyer.

Carly's musical influences include Heart, Celine, Skynyrd, Ray Charles, Whitney, Bono, Rolling Stones, U2, Janis, Johnny Cash, Aretha, Pink Floyd & Annie Lennox. She also loves Skeeter Davis and Nancy Sinatra.

Carly and Todd can't wait to have kids. Carly says she already has their names chosen. Todd wants a boy named Sue. Carly has not yet approved.

Carly's favorite colours are pink & black and her favorite flowers are tulips.

Fellow Idol-mate, David Archuleta, has said that during the Idol experience, Carly was like a mom to him.

Carly Smithson stated that her best friends from the show were David Cook and Michael Johns.

References

External links

• Official Carly Smithson Myspace
• Template:AI contestant
• Official artist page at MCA Records
• Please use a more specific IMDb template. See the documentation for available templates.
• Template:Tv.com person

Template:Carly Smithson