Auditioned and made it to Hollywood on American Idol Season 5, however,
was disqualified because paperwork for her work visa was delayed. When
she auditioned again for Season 7, she made it to Hollywood again, this time having the proper paperwork.
Smithson and her fellow Season 7 contestant Michael Johns were the first non-Americans to appear on American Idol (Smithson was born in Ireland; Johns was born in Australia).
I had previous experience, several other people last year had previous experience, and it just means that I pretty much worked my whole life to get where I'm at. It's American Idol, it's the American Dream -- of course everyone wants to follow it.