Well, I hardly consider her an "already discovered recording artist" just because she sang backup for recording artists. That would be like saying someone wasn't an amateur baseball player if they made a team for the first time PLAYING -simply because they used to be a "ball boy" for a team in the past!
I sure had never seen her or heard of her- had you? I doubt she was even singing backup for anyone famous like on major tours or anything of that nature...
I don't think they expect people that try out for AI to be people who have never sang in any way, form, or fashion in the past. But if they don't have an album (or single, or anything of that nature making money with them as the singer not just backup) out already- they qualify. Singing backup for people so not the same as doing it on your own. That's my opinion and apparently the bigwigs of AI's opinion as well.
Not arguing with you by any means BIP, but just wanted to point out some information from Wikipedia (While not always completely resourceful, I did also find the same list of performers on many other sites discussing Melinda).
Doolittle was born in Brentwood, Tennessee to Steve Doolittle. [1] She graduated from Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1995. [2] Although she has been singing since the seventh grade, her professional career did not begin until after her graduation in 1999 as a music major from Belmont University - then Belmont College. [3] Since college, her vocal instruction has been provided by her coach, Janet Kenyon. Doolittle sang back-up for Michael McDonald, Anointed, Mandisa, Aaron Neville, Jonny Lang, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Alabama (band) and CeCe Winans. A listing of her prior performances is provided by All Music Guide.
So apparently she did sing for some big name artists in the past. I mentioned this before but in case it was missed, I am just surprised with all of these people she knew in the business, that nobody would give her a "hand-up" so to speak. And I do understand what you are saying, back-up is not the same as being in the limelight, and for whatever reason she was not given a recording contract so this was the avenue she needed to persue. I actually feel bad, that with all her experience, she couldn't move up in the record industry.
That being said, according to Wikipedia the first defintion of the word amateur is someone performing some task without pay, in contrast to a "professional" who is paid for the same task. In this sense, labeling someone an "amateur" can have a negative connotation. For example, amateur athletes in sports such as basketball or football would not be regarded as having ability on par with professional athletes in those sports.
Where this can be interesting is in the case of the Olympic Games. Until the 1970s, most Olympic events required that the athletes be amateurs. To receive pay to perform the sport disqualified an athlete from an event, as in the case of Jim Thorpe. Such regulations have now been relaxed for all Olympic sports, with the exception of boxing and soccer.
In any case, the point is moot because you are absolutely right, AI does not require that contestants be amateurs. According to the official AI website in order to audition, you can not have a recording contract. It does not say that you could not have sung professionally in the past.
If you are asked to audition for the semi-final rounds in the Los Angeles, California, area, you MUST be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of producers, before departing for Los Angeles, that you do not have any of the following:
a contract for talent representation (for example, a talent agent or manager);
a music recording contract;
an acting and/or modeling contract;
a merchandising agreement; or,
any other contractual arrangement that would prohibit you from entering into a management contract, recording contract, talent contract, acting contract and/or merchandising contract.
Anyway, I believe Melinda should win based on how professional she does look on the stage compared to others & on how beautifully she sings. She certainly has quite the advantage over the much younger performers as far as ability goes. Of course she is my favorite so I'm biased. However, I don't believe that voters always base their votes on performance & ability so it could be anyone's game at this point. Still fun to watch though & also a lot of fun to chat & speculate about. Glad to see you back posting! Hope you're feeling much better! 
DS hadn't finished reading the book so he didn't know how it ended. We were both in tears for the last 20 minutes or so of the movie.
We can't bring him home untill next month,he's just now 4 weeks. In the meantime we have to put up a fence.
Shame on me!!
is done, that is. Jared doesn't like cake (sicko!) so I also made Key Lime bars. I'm glad I don't have a holiday meal every week.
Chris
