Ellen Reaches Out To Failed ‘Idol’ Contestant

Ellen DeGeneres invited “American Idol” contestant Angela Martin, who failed to make it to the Top 24 last week, to appear on her show Friday to talk about her struggles trying to make it in the music industry and as a mother of a special needs child. Martin has made it to Hollywood twice before, but in Season Seven her father was shot to death and in Season Eight she was arrested and jailed following a traffic incident. This season, her mother has been missing since Christmas. Martin said they received a tip from someone who had seen her mother, so she remains hopeful that she is still alive. Martin’s 10-year-old daughter Jessica is being treated for Rhett Syndrome at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in her native Chicago. Martin cannot audition for “Idol” a fourth time because she will be over the age limit, but she says she wouldn’t mind trying out for Simon Cowell’s new show, “The X Factor.” “Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi has promised to write a song for Martin, and Kara and Ellen promised to find her a record label.