Allison Iraheta (born April 27, 1992) is an American singer from Los Angeles, California, who came in fourth place on the eighth season of American Idol. Prior to Idol, Iraheta won the Telemundo competition Quinceañera: Mamá Quiero Ser Artista. Following the conclusion of Idol, Iraheta was signed to a record deal with 19 Entertainment and Jive Records. Her debut album Just Like You was released on December 1, 2009. Iraheta was born in Glendale, California, to Salvadorian immigrants who moved to the United States before she was born. She is the youngest in the family, with two older siblings. According to her parents, she has been singing since she was a toddler. In 2001, she began taking voice lessons with Raphael Enriquez at the Los Angeles Music and Art School, a non-profit community school of the arts in East Los Angeles. Before rising to prominence, she was a frequent performer at the local Latin supermarket La Curaçao and the Los Angeles Music and Art School's annual benefit concert, Stars for the Arts. In 2006, Iraheta won the Telemundo reality show, Quinceañera, where she sang in both English and Spanish. The prize was a reward of $50,000 and a recording contract, though only the reward money was granted. Allison was just six when she made her professional singing debut at a community event for La Curaçao, a local Latin supermarket. “There were about 600 people in the audience. My whole family came. My dad was nervous and I was nervous, too. I ended up singing there every weekend.” Growing up, Allison took voice lessons from private coaches and sang with her high school chorus. She performed at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood and at Cal State Los Angeles. When she was 14, her mother and sister encouraged her to try out for Quinceañera, a reality competition series that aired on Telemundo. She sang at the audition and was immediately asked if she could fly to Mexico the next day to start the series. And, oh yes, to live there for the next four months. Allison was the ultimate winner of the show, taking home a $50,000 prize. A recording contract was also promised but never materialized. With three male friends from school, she formed a band called Allison and the Dudes, and then Allison and the Gurus. At a charity performance held on the Paramount Studios lot, Allison met two other singers performing at the event – Brooke White and Michael Johns. She told them of her plans to audition for season eight. Allison will long be remembered for singing Janis Joplin’s version of “Cry Baby.” Allison says, “I grew up listening to Janis Joplin and I’ve sung ‘Piece Of My Heart.’ ‘Cry Baby’ is also one of my favorites. For me, I do connect with that one, definitely. I thought that was one of my best performances. It’s one of those songs I’ve always wanted to do.” Now, Allison is touring the United States on the “Americans Idols Live” tour as she prepares to record her first album for 19 Recordings/Jive Records. “I’m super excited,” she declares. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I’m with nine other awesome people that are so much fun to be with on the road.”