Carly Smithson Facing Backlash From American Idol Fans For Professional Past

Carly Smithson, an early frontrunner for American Idol season 7, is facing increasing backlash from fans of the show for her professional past as a recording artist and celebrity who released a major label record that flopped spectacularly. Despite receiving plaudits from American Idol celebrity judges Randy, Paula and most specifically Simon Cowell, Carly Smithson's recording dud the 2001 debut with MCA Records "Ultimate High" was the the Ultimate Stinker as it sold only 400 copies after the first three months of its release. Will we hear more of Carly Smithson news and even *gasp* see American Idol scandal pictures of Carly Smithson herself in full tattooed glory?

American Idol fans and media hounds are claiming that the show this season has already been fixed and the obvious winners would be contestants who have had professional recording contracts in the past such as Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook. American Idol was created to search for the best untapped singing talents in America, and this appears to have contradicted that although after last season's ruckus with Sanjaya Malakar. It also defies logic and belief that in such an industry, if an artiste like Carly Smithson had flopped so badly in the past, it would not make good business sense to have her back. However, it all does come down to marketing and packaging. And perhaps all this is really just a marketing move by American Idol to revive ratings and controversy in the backdrop of falling ratings, despite still being the number one show on Fox. This would continually explain how the once highly rated singing contest is now really just a celebrity circus, with fans waiting in anticipation each season for more examples of Antonella Barba scandals and picture galleries instead of caring too much about who the better singing sensation would be.