Allison Iraheta, a 17-year-old high-school student who finished fourth on "American Idol," has signed a contract with 19 Recordings, the company affiliated with the top-rated reality show.
Iraheta joins "American Idol" winner Kris Allen and runner-up Adam Lambert on the label, which is run by "Idol" creator Simon Fuller.
Before their albums are released in the fall, Allen, Lambert and Iraheta will reunite with their castmates on the annual "American Idol" tour, which kicks off July 5 in Portland, Ore.
Fuller said Iraheta is one of the best teenage singers the show has ever discovered. Her big songs included the jazz standard "Someone to Watch Over Me" and Heart's "Alone."
Iraheta, the daughter of Salvadoran immigrants who live in the Los Angeles suburb of Downey, has said that she aspired to compete on "American Idol" since she was 9 years-old.
Iraheta's album will come out through Jive Records, which is ultimately owned by Sony Corp.
There has been no announcement about recording plans for third-place finisher Danny Gokey.
(China Daily/Agencies June 11, 2009)
