Irish 'Idol' hopeful, Smithson, gets the boot from AI

Carly Smithson, formerly Carly Hennessy, has become the seventh person to be eliminated from reality show American Idol.

Smithson, 24, is now married and based in San Diego, California, where she works as a bartender. She was eliminated on Andrew Lloyd Webber night, where she performed Jesus Christ Superstar.

The controversial singer, noted for her tattoos as much as her voice, raised eyebrows when it was discovered she had released an album, and won a Meteor Award for Best Newcomer, in her native Ireland. She signed with MCA records in 1999, when Idol judge, Randy Jackson was an A & R man.

Of the controversy, Smithson claimed: “It got me a lot of exposure. Everything happens for a reason, so I think there has to be something positive in it.”

Five contests remain in the show, where Smithson met Syesha Mercado in the bottom two.