CROWN JULES

DJ Gerry finds Karaoke Queen ..with X Factor

Mirror (UK)
May 30, 2008
by Demelza de Burca

POPSTAR wannabe Julie Gallagher proved yesterday she has the X Factor as she was crowned Ireland's Karaoke Queen.

And the former You're A Star contestant now has her hopes pinned on winning this year's X Factor competition.

Julie, 20, won over celebrity judges Louis Walsh and American Pop Idol finalist Carly Smithson and beat nine other women in the female Gerry Ryan Show Karaoke final.

The blonde bombshell from Ballyfermot, West Dublin, sang one of her favourite song's To Love You More by Celine Dion.

She told the Irish Daily Mirror: "I am absolutely thrilled. I met Louis and he is putting a good word in for me for the X Factor. I have got through three sets of auditions with the producers so now I am just waiting to get the call for the TV audition."

The Meteor phone company customer service officer said she hopes to be the next Leona Lewis.

She added: "The judges were very complimentary and Carly said I sounded like my idol Celine Dion so that was a great ego boost."

"I was very nervous when I got into the boot camp of You're A Star last year but I am a bit older now and a bit more confident."

Julie will go forward to represent the show at the national finals this Bank Holiday weekend.

Tattooed songbird Carly, who came sixth in this year's American Idol, is enjoying a short break here before she heads off to join the show's tour which kicks off in a few weeks.

Meanwhile, X Factor judge Louis has been teasing fans that he won't be on the next series of the hit show.

With only two weeks to go before filming starts the music manager revealed he is still waiting to sign his contract.

Louis is reported to have asked show boss and fellow judge Simon Cowell for a EUR250,000 raise.

And his other co-worker Sharon Osbourne has put in her demand for a E3million contract.

'I've got through three sets of auditions and Louis is putting in a good word for me so I'm just waiting to get the call back'