Haley Scarnato

Singer and actress Haley Scarnato was a contestant on the sixth season of the hit reality singing competition television show American Idol. She was voted off the show by the American public on April 11, 2007, in eighth place.

Scarnato wanted to be a gymnast as a child, training from the age of five. Her dream was shattered as she dislocated both of her shoulders at the age of 15. As any chance of a career in gymnastics was over, she discovered a love of music. She was the lead singer in the The Oh So Good! Band that played at weddings in the San Antonio area.

She auditioned for American Idol in her hometown of San Antonio, and while the judge Simon Cowell called her performance "cabaret" she advanced to Hollywood to compete against the other best candidates in the country. After making it to the top 8, she was eliminated after her rendition of "Turn the Beat Around" failed to earn the vote of the American audience. A devout Christian, she prayed before every performance. While in the competition, she was roommates with third place finalist Melinda Doolittle.

Scarnato has hopes of moving to Nashville to pursue her dream of becoming a country music star. Her Idol songs are currently available on iTunes.

1. Season: 6
2. Placed: 8th
3. Audition city: San Antonio, Texas

1. "I thought maybe I should go more trendy and young and look more pop. I thought to focus more on what's in style. And that's what's in style, so that's why I went with shorts and leggings. It just kind of was what it was."
2. "Once the band kicks in and the music takes you, you just let go."