Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres Offer Surprise for Angela Martin

Although the judges have cut Angela Martin from American Idol, Kara DioGuardi is making it up to her. Angela Martin appeared on Ellen when DeGeneres offered her a piece of good news.

Kara DioGuardi is going to write and produce a song for her, and they are going to the studio to record it. The judges also plan on finding her a record label.

Angela Martin, 28, had auditioned for American Idol three times. The first year, she had to bow out of Hollywood because her father was murdered by her stepmom. She was also struggling to care for her daughter who was having seizures. The second time she auditioned for American Idol, she had to spend six days in jail for unpaid traffic tickets. This year, her her mother had gone missing around Christmastime, casting a cloud over her experience in Hollywood.

Angela Martin was inches from the American Idol top 24 when Kara DioGuardi broke the news that she would not continue in the competition. This was her last year of eligibility, so she will not be able to audition next year.

At the time, it seemed a bit unfair. Not only had Angela Martin been through a whirlwind of personal tragedy, but more importantly, she was a great singer. And to see Kara DioGuardi consoling her on the couch and talking about how Angela was the bravest person she knew and how 'there are other ways' seemed a bit patronizing.

It's difficult to determine why the judges had decided to cut Angela Martin from American Idol. This year's top 24 is full of folksy blonde singers. Perhaps the show wanted to take a different stylistic direction this year. Or perhaps Angela was so good that she didn't need the competition and that they just wanted to give her a record deal right away. (Video of Angela Martin's verdict is available on YouTube).

On her talk show, Ellen DeGeneres praised Angela Martin for her positive attitude and how she never gave up. She also talked about how all the rough experiences would teach her compassion and how she'd be able to look back on her experiences and understand why worked out the way they did. (Video of Angela Martin's appearance on Ellen is also available on YouTube).

Thankfully, Angela Martin, with the help of Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi, has been able to make lemonade out of lemons and to turn tragedy into triumph.

We've seen singers such as Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, and Clay Aiken succeed without winning American Idol. Yet we've also seen contestants find new opportunities without even making the finals. And in season 3, Matthew Metzger just missed the top 12 but he later landed a role as Duke Buchanan on the soap One Life To Live.

Sources:

Angela Martin verdict in American Idol Hollywood Round #4, YouTube

'American Idol' Castoff Angela Martin Gets a Huge Surprise(02/19/10), YouTube