Last year, it was Carly Smithson – this year’s American Idol 8 has Hollywood contestant Joanna Pacitti making headlines – the Louisville, Kentucky auditioner has been in the music business for awhile, having suffered the fate of a failed record deal, among other disappointments.

Joanna Pacitti has been performing since she was six years old, and while she landed a gig in 1996 at age 12 in the Broadway revival of Annie – she was fired from the production. Scandalous, right?

Joanna Pacitti’s parents sued the Annie producers for 50 million dollars and the case was settled out of court.

So… what about Joanna Pacitti’s record deal? She was signed to A&M records, had songs on the “Legally Blonde” and “Bratz” soundtracks and appeared on MTV’s True Life in 2003, a documentary following her and other kids trying to break into the music business.

In 2006, Joanna Pacitti was signed to Geffen Records, and her first single was “Let It Slide” off This Crazy Life album. Her deal with Geffen ended in 2007.

Joanna Pacitti’s song “Out From Under” is covered on Britney Spears’ album, Circus.

Here’s the 20/20 piece that chronicled the Annie controversy in 1996.