American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi has rallied to the defense of Season 8 contestant Joanna Pacitti in the wake of claims that the established solo recording artist has an unfair advantage over her counterparts.

Controversy erupted last week, when it was revealed tha Joanna was once signed to A&M Records and during that time recorded an album and had songs featured on the soundtracks for movies like Legally Blonde (“Watch Me Shine”), Bratz (“Out From Under”), First Daughter, and Nancy Drew.

“I do think it’s fair because she’s facing, actually, the same challenges and in some ways more challenges than some of the other contestants,” Kara says.

“She’s been dropped from a record label, which psychologically puts you in a weird place, right? So, you know, that’s why I think she’s so emotional on the show… She knows what it’s like to actually get a deal and then be dropped, which is actually a terrible thing.”

Kara believes that Joanna may have difficulty advancing as the competition progresses.

“I don’t know that she has any more advantage than any of the other contestants ‘cause some of them are as good if not better….Just because someone was signed – the fight begins after you’ve been signed. You know, you’ve gotta find the great song, you’ve gotta find a great production, you have to have a great look and image and you know all these things that come into making a hit artist.”