"Idol" finalist Kristy Lee Cook signs with Arista

07/01/2008 4:00 PM, Reuters
Ray Waddell

Recent "American Idol" finalist Kristy Lee Cook has signed a contract with 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville, home of the talent show's 2005 winner Carrie Underwood.

Cook, who made it the top seven of this year's installment, has been preparing for the annual American Idols Live! tour, which begins Tuesday in Glendale, Ariz.

The 24-year-old Oregon resident will team with songwriter/producer Brett James (Jessica Simpson) to record her album between tour dates, with a release expected this fall. Her first single, "15 Minutes of Shame," will go to country radio in August. Cook was previously signed to Arista at age 17, but was dropped before any music was released.

David Cook and David Archuleta, the respective winner and runner-up of this year's "American Idol," previously signed with Arista Nashville's sibling label Jive Records.

Reuters/Billboard