Joanna Pacitti began her music interest early at the age of 5 in 1989 when she sung to customers in Joseph Pacitti’s barber shop. Because of this, Stella Pacitti, her mother, enrolled her in dance classes, as she began competing in local talent and dance competitions.

At the age of 12 years old, in 1996, she was chosen to star in the 20th Anniversary revival of the musical Annie after entering a contest sponsored by the department store Macy’s. As a result, Pacitti starred in 106 performances with the National Tour, obtaining mixed reviews.

A national publicity broke as two weeks before the show was to land on Broadway, she was sick with Bronchitis. When she returned, she found out she was permanently replaced by one of the actresses playing an orphan instead. This incident became national news and generated a great deal of publicity. Joanna Pacitti ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://www.joannapacitti.tv/) then appeared for interviews on ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, American Journal and Turning Point, an in-depth report with Barbara Walters. She also employed a public relations strategist to book publicity opportunities with publications and television shows.

Her soundtrack are as follows:

• 2001 Legally Blonde Soundtrack – Watch Me Shine
• 2002 Cadet Kelly Soundtrack – Watch Me Shine
• 2003 My Scene’s Chelsea Mix – Just When You’re Leaving (different version from the album version, Promotional Only Release)
• 2004 First Daughter Soundtrack – Fall
• 2007 Nancy Drew Soundtrack – Pretty Much Amazing
• 2007 Bratz: Motion Picture Soundtrack – Out From Under

She is currently a contestant in American Idol. Joanna auditioned for season 8 of American Idol which is in Louisville, Kentucky, which aired on 21 January 2009. Pacitti has passed the audition into the Hollywood round. Pacitti is one of the most experienced contestants in American Idol and she has most likely made it to the finals. ^{^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Pacitti#cite_note-3)}