25 Facts About Carly Smithson

Carly Sarah Smithson is an Irish soul and pop rock singer who was the sixth place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol in 2008.

In 2001, Smithson had released her first studio album for MCA Records called Ultimate High.

Carly Smithson was born in Dublin to Marie Murray and Luke Hennessy.

Carly Smithson lived there until they moved back to Dublin when she was 4 years old.

Carly Smithson began singing around the age of 4 and has had some experience with acting.

Carly Smithson was featured in advertisements for Denny's Sausage for three years, starting at the age of five.

In 1990, Carly Smithson played Young Marianne in Fools of Fortune.

Carly Smithson met her husband Todd Smithson, a tattoo artist, in San Diego.

However, in an interview after her elimination, Carly Smithson clarified that it is a drawing of a Japanese Geisha, based on a painting that she owns.

Carly Smithson gave birth to daughter Olivia Mabel Carly Smithson on 30 September 2012.

Carly Smithson became an American citizen on 23 August 2017.

Carly Smithson auditioned in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the fifth season of American Idol and was unanimously accepted by the judges.

In 2007, Carly Smithson auditioned again for the seventh season of American Idol making it to Hollywood, but this time with the proper paperwork.

Carly Smithson was one of the first foreign contestants to make the show's Top 12 with the other one being Michael Johns who was an Australian.

Shortly after it was announced that Carly Smithson had made the show's Top 24, articles appeared in the mainstream press questioning her selection because of her previous record deal.

Carly Smithson's elimination came as a surprise to viewers as she was considered one of the front-runners on the show.

Whitney Pastorek of Entertainment Weekly mockingly called the show "America's Embarrassing Lapses in Judgment", saying "Carly Smithson was sent packing, despite a rendition of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' that Jesus himself would have been hard-pressed to top".

Carly Smithson returned to Idol during its eighth season, as a mentor to contestants taking part in Boot Camp Training during "Hollywood Week," although this footage did not appear on the show.

Carly Smithson appeared in the season 8 Grand Finale, where she served as a correspondent covering the events of the celebration in San Diego, Adam Lambert's hometown.

Two of Smithson's own original songs, titled "Let Me Fall" and "Lay with Me," were featured in a Los Angeles Times interview video of Carly recording songs for her post-Idol album.

The solo album Carly Smithson had been recording was reportedly scrapped.

On 28 October 2009, it was announced that We Are the Fallen, along with Carly Smithson, had signed with Universal Republic.

In December 2010, Carly Smithson began singing with Cirque du Soleil in Viva Elvis.

Carly Smithson performed in the Las Vegas production for nearly two years until it closed in August 2012.

Carly Smithson served as a table judge in the stadium auditions for the fourteenth season of American Idol in Minneapolis, Minnesota, New Orleans, Louisiana, Long Island, New York, and Nashville, Tennessee between 18 June and 30 July 2014.