Joanna Pacitti

Joanna Pacitti, born October 6, 1984, is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned theater, television, and recorded music.

Pacitti's entry into professional performance came at age 12, when she won a contest sponsored by the department store Macy's that earned her the starring role in the 20th anniversary revival of the musical Annie. She completed 106 performances with the national tour before the production moved toward its Broadway engagement. Her Broadway credit in Annie dates to 1997; however, shortly before the show's Broadway opening, the producers terminated her involvement. Pacitti contested the decision, and after her initial appeal was upheld, the matter was ultimately resolved through an out-of-court settlement on undisclosed terms.

In her teenage years, Pacitti shifted focus toward a pop music career, signing a five-year recording deal with A&M Records executive Ron Fair at age 14. Her first single, "Let It Slide," was released in May 2006 through Geffen Records and went to radio at the end of June. Her debut album, This Crazy Life, followed on August 15, 2006, debuting at number 31 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. During 2006, she toured alongside Sheryl Crow and Nick Lachey and participated in Teen People's Rock'n'Shop Tour in July. When Geffen Records underwent budgetary cuts in 2007, Pacitti was dropped from the label while working on a follow-up record.

Pacitti also accumulated a number of soundtrack contributions during this period. These include "Watch Me Shine" on the 2001 Legally Blonde soundtrack and the 2002 Cadet Kelly soundtrack, "Fall" on the 2004 First Daughter soundtrack, "Pretty Much Amazing" on the 2007 Nancy Drew soundtrack, and "Out from Under" on the 2007 Bratz: Motion Picture Soundtrack. The latter song was subsequently re-recorded by Britney Spears for her 2008 album Circus.

Her television work includes a 2003 appearance on MTV's First Year, a program that followed three participants attempting to establish themselves in various professions over the course of a year, with Pacitti documented in her pursuit of a music career. In 2004, she appeared in an episode of What I Like About You, playing a singer named Amber and performing her song "Ultraviolet."

Pacitti auditioned for the eighth season of American Idol in Louisville, Kentucky, in an episode that aired January 21, 2009, advancing through to the Hollywood round. She was subsequently announced as part of the Top 36 on the February 11 broadcast, but Fox issued a press release the following morning stating she was ineligible to continue and removing her from the competition. She was replaced by Felicia Barton. Her prior professional experience prompted broader discussion regarding eligibility standards for American Idol contestants.