'Idol' Cuts 4 but Keeps Irish Crooner http://www.mail.com/Article.aspx?articlepath=AP... Carly Smithson progressed on "American Idol" Thursday amid controversy over her professional past. Smithson, 24, has made headlines for having a pre-"Idol" career: The Irish crooner recorded a debut album, 2001's "Ultimate High," for MCA Records.