Will Joanna Pacitti be the next American Idol?

America may not be familiar with Joanna Pacitti, but I am. This past Tuesday, the 23-year-old Philadelphia native auditioned in Louisville, Kentucky for a spot in this year's American Idol competition. What sets this particular person apart from the others is the very interesting is the fact that she was once signed and released a major record label album.

First, some back history...she was known professionally as simply Joanna and was the subject of press attention since childhood. She was infamously released from her contract in the midst of starring on Broadway's Annie in the early 1990s, performed her song "Ultraviolet" on the sitcom "What I Like About You" in the early 2000s, and was followed by MTV for a True Life documentary on artists attempting to break into the recording industry, which happened to capture Joanna recording sessions under her development deal. She was finally signed by Ron Fair to Geffen Records, and subsequently released her debut This Crazy Life in 2006.

Now the matter at hand is her participation in this season's Idol. Although the show was originally intended to find the next undiscovered (and amateur) superstar, Idol has evolved into finding the next superstar America has yet to embrace. Take last year's roster of Idol finalists, including Carly Smithson (née Hennessey): most of whom have released albums prior to competing. Its producers have embraced the fact that some of these artists have had a taste of a professional career, but have amended the rules to give these singers a second chance due to their unfortunate circumstances. In Joanna's case, her promising album flopped and her recording company failed in giving her her due in my eyes.

In 2006, I purchased Joanna's album and was instantly hooked by its tracks. I believed it had the potential to be a chart topper because it was full of radio-friendly pop-rock hits like the lead single "Let It Slide", Your Obsession", and the Dashboard Confessional cover of "Screaming Infidelities". I encourage you to purchase and listen to her great recording voice. If you watched her Idol audition, she is arguably a pop belter in the same league as Mariah Carey and Kelly Clarkson. And on top of being a stunner, it is her voice that is her most beautiful instrument, and if she is able to showcase it and gain exposure from advancing in Idol, I believe she can win over America and get that much deserved second chance.

She already has my vote.