Post 'Idol' Future Bleak for Many Singers

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(Dec. 17) - Former 'American Idol' contestant Carly Smithson thought she had it all, as she toured with the season 7 cast, prepared for national press junkets and had her own stylist in tow. But now that a new season is slated to begin in January, Smithson says her "fishbowl" experience has ended, leaving her (and other contestants) with a bleak post-'Idol' future.

After the 53-city "Idols Live" national tour ended in September, Smithson was left "standing alone on the curb at the Burbank airport" with no more than a memory of her 'Idol' days. She was forced to break back into the music industry on her own, she told the Los Angeles Times.

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Your Idols, Then and Now

See how your favorite -- or not so favorite -- 'American Idol' singers turned out since leaving the show. Starting With Brooke White...

Frank Micelotta, FOX

Your Idols' - Then and Now

Brooke White then.

Frank Micelotta, FOX

Brooke White now.

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Diana DeGarmo then.

Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

Diana DeGarmo now.

Tony R. Phipps, WireImage.com

Justin Guarini then.

Kevin Winter, FOX / Getty Images

Justin Guarini now.

Getty Images

Sanjaya Malakar then.

Frank Micelotta, FOX / AP

Sanjaya Malakar now.

Bennett Raglin, WireImage

Carly Smithson then.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Carly Smithson now.

FOX

Six years before her appearance on the reality show, Smithson, then 17, was signed to a major label. But her dreams shattered quickly, when the label disbanded before her album was even released. She wound up taking odd jobs running a tattoo shop with her husband and working as a waitress at a local pub.

More 'Idol' From AOL Television

She was finally given her second chance at a music career, when she was chosen as a contestant for Season 7's cast of 'American Idol.' She was treated like a queen until the tour ended, she says. The star treatment stopped and her music career was over... again.

"I was standing on the curb at Burbank airport and the city felt so huge and overwhelming, like it was going to swallow me up. But I said to myself, 'I'm not going to let it destroy me. I need to make a plan to move forward. I need to map out week by week what I have to accomplish,'" Smithson said.

The 'Idol' contestant was forced to start from scratch and rebuild her music career -- all alone.

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American Idol Romances

Teri Seymour and Simon Cowell, who dated for over six years, broke up in September when Seymour called off their relationship.

Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage

Paula Abdul and Corey Clarke were the center of attention when Clarke started rumors of an alleged sexual relationship he had with Paula during the second season of 'American Idol.' Paula denied all allegations.

Justin Kahn, WireImage

Carrie Underwood doesn't let her romantic life suffer... She's admitted to dating Travis Stork and Dallas Cowboy's quarterback, Tony Romo.

Getty Images / WireImage / AP

Chris Daughtry and Deanna Robertson have been married since April 2000 and have two children.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson were 'American Idol' sweethearts during the show's first season. The two denied rumors they ever dated.

Matt Peyton, Getty Images

Nick Cokas and Katharine McPhee married on February 2, 2008 at the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church. The two first met when they performed in a L.A. theater production of 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir'.

Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage

"When you're in 'American Idol' you are in a fishbowl, but as soon as you get out of the whole process, you're still in a fishbowl, but it's just a bigger bowl," the singer said. "It's kind of bizarre that you start this process of making your record and being an artist when you're already famous... This time it's like I'm famous, and I have nothing to show for it. It's weird like that."

Smithson has since signed on with Arthur Spivak, a veteran entertainment manager whose clients past and present include Tori Amos and Three Days Grace. The singer was forced to recreate her music style, which she says didn't happen on the 'Idol' stage. "I don't feel that I solidified with the music choices exactly, who I wanted to be music-wise... So when I came back to L.A., I wanted to let them hear that this was my sound, that this is who I am," she said.

While she is busy recording a new demo, Smithson says she's hoping to resurrect her career and gain the fame she had while with 'Idol.'

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"From here on, I'm diving in. I'm making hopefully the greatest thing that I will ever make... I understand that when you come off of 'Idol' there's that window of opportunity that you have to grab a hold of, but at the end of the day it's very important to take your time and make something that you're so proud of," she said.

2008-12-17 10:47:08

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