Last night’s American Idol opened with the courageous story of Joanna Pacitti, who’s been trying to “make it” in the music industry since 16 and hopes the show will give her the “break” she needs. While Kara DioGuardi acknowledged that she used to be signed to A&M Records (Kara was clonef*cker enough not to mind), they failed to mention some of the other “breaks” Pacitti has had over the last decade or so, before she showed up bawling amongst the amateurs and wanna-bes in Louisville.
1996: Pacitti wins the role of Annie in a Macy’s contest, and performs on the national tour of the musical. Fired before the Broadway opening, Pacitti’s mother sued for $10-50 million dollars (she received an undisclosed settlement).
1997: Pacitti appears on the Rosie O’Donnell Show, Good Morning America, Leeza, Sally Jessy Raphael and other talk shows to discuss her firing (“I just have to remember that…I’m the real Annie…and the sun will come out tomorrow”). Pacitti is offered sitcoms and a book deal.
2000: Pacitti moves from Philadelphia to LA to start a recording career. Within a year, she signs with future Pussycat Dolls judge Ron Fair at A&M Records, releasing the single “Watch Me Shine” on 2001′s Legally Blonde soundtrack.
2003: Pacitti stars on MTV True Life: First Year, which chronicles her label’s grooming of its potential star. Her songs continue to appear on soundtracks and promotional CDs.
2006: Pacitti releases her first album, This Crazy Life. It hits #31 on the Heatseekers chart. Despite appearing on the Bratz soundtrack, she’s dropped in late 2007.
2008: Pacitti attends the Louisville Idol auditions in October, where her mother promises on camera she loves her whether or 
not she gets on the show (aw). After receiving her golden ticket, Pacitti performs at December’s annual “In CONCERT” benefit concert in Hollywood.
There have been similar controversies on the show since Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson was revealed to have recorded demos for a label, but does Pacitti’s decade of c-level fame give her an unfair advantage? Maybe Idol should do a spin-off show (Second Chances?) for all the professional musicians trying to make it even bigger.
[Photos: Getty/WireImage]
