Robbie Carrico - also known as an ex-boyfriend of Britney Spears, also known as a contestant on this season of American Idol - used to be a boy band singer with short hair.

Hence, the initial photo below.

Now, however, Carrico is going to such lengths to come across as a hardcore rocker on Idol that he’s rumored to be wearing a wig. Take a look at the contrasting pictures now and let us know what you think:

Robbie Carrico, circa 2001 and 2008.

During his performance on the opening night of audition for American Idol top 12 men, Robbie Carrico received one off compliment and one outright insult.

First, Ryan Seacrest compared him to Justin Timberlake. That would be flattering, except both Robbie and Timberlake dated Britney Spears in the past. Awkward!

Simon Cowell then rained on Carrico’s Idol parade, saying: “I’m not quite sure yet whether you’re very comfortable in this rock thing or whether you’re a pop singer.”

As the top 24 contestants on American Idol begin singing for their reality show lives tomorrow night (voting is now on you, viewers), USA Today is running a feature that outlines the professional backgrounds of a few finalists.

Perhaps in response to the timid album sales of Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis, American Idol has passed a quintet of supposed ringers on to the finals, those that have actually had a recording deal with a label in the past. But that’s a negative in the eyes of many.

“The reason I watch is to see someone journey from nowhere to stardom,” Kevin Kotke, a fan from Milwaukee, told the newspaper. “The only kind of record a contestant should be able to claim is the $5 self-published kind from the mall.”

But Season 7 contestants can claim quite a bit more than that:

• Carly Smithson recorded for MCA, which lavished more than $2 million on her debut album, then dumped her when it sold poorly.
• Kristy Lee Cook signed with Britney Spears’ production company in 2001.
• Michael Johns’ band, The Rising, was dropped by Madonna’s Maverick label.
• Robbie Carrico sang with Boyz-N-Girlz United, an Orlando boy/girl band.
• David Archuleta won $100,000 on Star Search in 2003.

While some fans are bothered by this sort of experience, American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe says the flap “is a storm in a teacup… Let’s just let the stories unfold.”

He adds that show rules require only that contestants not be currently under contract: “We’re looking for ‘great,’ and, yes, those people in all likelihood have had dealings with the industry before.”

What do you think? Should American Idol contestant be wholly undiscovered?