With her youthful enthusiasm and flair for performance, Diana DeGarmo stood out from the competition when she first appeared on national television during the third season of American Idol. She was a finalist--and a darn good one, narrowly losing out. Of course, it's hard to say she lost when the show helped launch her pop career.DeGarmo was still a junior in high school when she appeared on the show, but she had plenty of experience in the entertainment industry. Growing up in Atlanta, she performed at the 1996 Olympics as a member of the Coca-Cola sponsored Olympic Kids. She later found work on television, lending her voice to the Cartoon Network's Cartoon Gang and appearing on America's Most Talented Kid.It was hard not to root for her on American Idol, displaying a tenacity that won over many fans. After appearing on the show, she inked a record deal and released a single album, Blue Skies. On it, DeGarmo showed off her fine voice on songs that seemed custom-written for teenage girls dreaming of bigger, better things--as the title suggests. It's an honest portrayal of the girl who vies for the spotlight but is endlessly frustrated. Still, she perseveres with a stiff upper lip, in full knowledge that she has the talent for the big time, and someday people will recognize that.Her song Dreams was one of the most popular off the record, climbing the Billboard charts to a peak position of 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. Radio play got her music and passion out to other pop fans, and though her album wasn't critically well-received, she still has plenty of fans that are rooting for her and her dreams. It seems that Diana DeGarmo has worked her way to the top.