Who is Pia Ann Rose Toscano? The entertainment and reality world knows her as Pia Toscano. She is an American singer from Howard Beach, New York. Toscano placed ninth on the tenth season of American Idol. Previously considered to be a frontrunner in the competition, her elimination came as a shock to judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Steven Tyler, all of whom were visibly and vocally upset and outraged.[2][3] Many viewers and media outlets described Toscano's 
departure as one of the most shocking eliminations in American Idol history.[4][5]Early life
Toscano was born October 14, 1988 and grew up in Howard Beach, New York.[6] She is of Italian descent.[7] She began performing in talent shows when she was four, and by the time she was nine, had performed in a local church production of "Jesus Christ Superstar".[8] Toscano was the official National Anthem singer at her middle school, P.S./M.S. 207, and performed at every event including graduation. She attended LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts in New York City and graduated in 2006. Fellow Idol contestant Karen Rodriguez also attended this school.
She performed the National Anthem and "God Bless America" for the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets’ minor league team, several times a year for three years.[8] In addition, Toscano was the winner of the New York Mets annual "Anthem Search" competition in 2008 and was selected to sing the National Anthem at a July 2008 game.[9][10] Toscano has also opened for the Barenaked Ladies and performed with Josh Groban at Madison Square Garden.[11]Prior to Idol, Toscano worked as a make-up artist[12] and as a wedding singer in a band called "Current Affair".[7] She cites her musical influences as Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Etta James, and Luther Vandross.[12]
Music career
2007–2011: American Idol
Toscano had auditioned for American Idol four times before. She made it through to Hollywood in Season 6, but her journey ended in the Hollywood solo round. In 2010, she auditioned for the tenth season of American Idol in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and was put through to Hollywood, this time making it through to the Top 24. She impressed the judges with her rendition of "I'll Stand by You" during the semi-finals, receiving the first standing ovation of the season and earning her a place in the Top 13. Randy Jackson commented that this was one of the most "amazing performances" on Idol in its 10 seasons.[13] In an elimination that viewers and media outlets have described as one of the most shocking in Idol history,[14] Toscano was eliminated from the competition on April 7, 2011, finishing in ninth place.Performances/results
| Week # | Theme | Song choice | Original artist | Order # | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | Auditioner's Choice | Not aired | N/A | N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood | First Solo | Not aired | N/A | N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood | Group Performance | "Grenade" | Bruno Mars | N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood | Second Solo | Not aired | N/A | N/A | Advanced |
| Las Vegas Round | Songs of The Beatles Group Performance | "Can't Buy Me Love" | The Beatles | N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood Round Final | Final Solo | "Doesn't Mean Anything" | Alicia Keys | N/A | Advanced |
| Top 24 (12 Females) | Personal Choice | "I'll Stand by You" | The Pretenders | 12 | Advanced |
| Top 13 | Your Personal Idol | "All by Myself" | Eric Carmen | 5 | Safe |
| Top 12 | Year You Were Born | "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" | Whitney Houston | 7 | Safe |
| Top 11 | Motown | "All in Love Is Fair" | Stevie Wonder | 8 | Safe |
| Top 111 | Elton John | "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" | Elton John | 4 | Safe |
| Top 9 | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | "River Deep – Mountain High" | Ike & Tina Turner | 7 | Eliminated |
- ^Note 1 Due to the judges using their save to save Casey Abrams, the Top 11 remained intact for another week.
2011–present: Post-Idol
Toscano performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 8, 2011; the day after her elimination. Toscano performed on Live with Regis and Kelly on April 11, 2011. Toscano is also set to appear and perform on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on April 14, 2011.Less than 24 hours after being eliminated from American Idol, Toscano was reported to have signed a recording contract with Interscope Records. However, her rep said that chatter about a done deal is "all rumor", but confirmed that Interscope wants to produce a single with Toscano and release it while the current season of Idol is still on. [15]
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