[elc]

I don’t think it was so much the past record deals that finally made them decide to cut her. I read elsewhere she knows at least 1, if not more, higher ups at 19 Management, which runs Idol.

I think they’re more worried about that fallout than record deals. Quite a few other contestants had record deals in the past. Not quite sure why they singled out Carly.

[kevkrom]

Not quite sure why they singled out Carly.

I can think of two reasons:

1. She had released several prior albums, she wasn't just someone who once had a record deal when young that just didn't work out (c.f. Kristy Lee in the same season)
2. She was competing under a different (married) name, and I think they wanted to be completely "above board" on the fact she wasn't hiding her past record deal.

[PrincessB]

As far as I understand it, Carly was the big one last year that some fans objected to mainly because there was a video on youtube. The show bills itself as turning a “nobody” into a “somebody” and it’s a bit of a scam if you have a professionally produced video on youtube.

And again is this a show turning the girl next door in nowheresville U.S.A. into a star or a vehicle to get 19 Management’s stable of talent more exposure and practice infront of a live audience? I don’t doubt 19 entertainment put her there on purpose and only pulled her when there was too much negative publicity.