Carly Smithson

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Birth Name: Carly Smithson

Age: 40, born 12 September 1983

Country of origin: Ireland

Currently Residing In: United States

Height: 5' 8"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Todd Smithson

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born in year 1983 (247 items)
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Published 10 years, 4 months ago

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Description: Carly Smithson (born September 12, 1983 as Carly Sarah Hennessy) is an Irish soul/pop rock singer-songwriter from San Diego, California who was the sixth place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. In 2001, Smithson released her first studio album for MCA Records called Ultimate High. Smithson was dropped from the record label in 2002. Plans for her post-Idol solo album have been scrapped and instead she is now the lead singer of We Are the Fallen. Early life and education Smithson was born in Dublin, Ireland, to her parents Marie Murray and Luke Hennessy. After living 6 months in Dublin, Smithson and her pare Carly Smithson (born September 12, 1983 as Carly Sarah Hennessy) is an Irish soul/pop rock singer-songwriter from San Diego, California who was the sixth place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. In 2001, Smithson released her first studio album for MCA Records called Ultimate High. Smithson was dropped from the record label in 2002. Plans for her post-Idol solo album have been scrapped and instead she is now the lead singer of We Are the Fallen.

Early life and education

Smithson was born in Dublin, Ireland, to her parents Marie Murray and Luke Hennessy. After living 6 months in Dublin, Smithson and her parents moved to Johannesburg, South Africa. She lived there until they moved back to Dublin when she was 4 years old. Smithson began singing around the age of 4 and has also had some experience with acting. She was featured in advertisements for Denny's Sausage for three years, starting at the age of five. In 1990, Smithson played Young Marianne in Fools of Fortune. Two years later, in 1992, she joined the cast of Les Misérables and starred as Little Cosette in Ireland. When she was 10 years old, she released an independent CD titled Carly's Christmas Album which was released in the United Kingdom. When Smithson was 14, her parents divorced. A year later, she and her father moved to the United States in order for Smithson to pursue a career in music. Smithson is a high school dropout.

After Smithson's record deal with MCA Records dissolved, she decided to take a break from music. She met her husband Todd Smithson, a tattoo artist, in San Diego. They lived in Marietta, Georgia, for a few years, where Smithson worked at an Irish bar called Fado. In a coincidental connection, Michael Johns (an American Idol season 7 finalist) performed weekly at Fado, under his real name Michael Lee. In 2005, Smithson and her husband moved to San Diego, where they currently reside. Smithson has an older half-brother named Nik and a younger sister named Shannon. Smithson also works at Nothing Sacred, a tattoo shop in San Diego owned by her husband. Smithson has nine tattoos. During the time that she was on Idol, reports claimed that her unfinished sleeve tattoo on her right arm seemed to be a drawing of Amy Winehouse. However, in a interview after her elimination, Smithson clarified that it is a drawing of a Japanese Geisha, based on a painting that she owns.

After she was eliminated from American Idol, Smithson appeared on talk shows, including Live with Regis and Kelly, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Access Hollywood, Today and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Smithson completed the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008, which ran from July 1, 2008 to September 12, 2008. She performed "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence, "Crazy on You" by Heart, and "I Drove All Night" by Cyndi Lauper. Smithson returned to Idol during its eighth season, as a mentor to contestants taking part in Boot Camp Training during "Hollywood Week". This footage ended on the cutting room floor. Later, during the February 18, 2009 live semifinals results show, Smithson and fellow season 7 contestant Michael Johns performed "The Letter", a song they had also performed for the Idol Finale the previous season. She also appeared in the season 8 Grand Finale, where she served as a correspondent covering the events of the celebration in San Diego, Adam Lambert's hometown.

Two of Smithson's own original songs, called "Lie With Me" and "Let Me Fall", have been recorded and are also in a LA Times Interview video of Carly recording songs for her album. In the interview, Smithson reveals that "pop rock" is what she wants to do and she adds "I don't want to go too hard rock or too pop". Smithson was putting the finishing touches on her post-Idol album when it was announced on June 18, 2009, that she would be joining forces with Evanescence co-founder Ben Moody in a new band called We Are the Fallen, thought to be named after Evanescence's first album. The solo album Smithson had been recording was reportedly scrapped.

On October 28, 2009, it was announced that We Are the Fallen, along with Smithson, have signed with Universal Republic. The band has finished recording their first album and it was released on May 11, 2010. They are currently touring in support of their album with Saving Abel. ... (more)