Reinhart first auditioned for the ninth season of American Idol, in Chicago, but did not advance to the Hollywood round.
Reinhart returned for the tenth season of Idol the following year, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and this time was put through to Hollywood.
In the group round of the competition her groupmates included fellow finalist Paul McDonald. Later in the second solo round, she performed "God Bless the Child", impressing the judges. In Vegas Round, she grouped up this time with fellow finalists Naima Adedapo, and Jacob Lusk. They performed The Beatles's song "The Long and Winding Road".
She has received notable musician and celebrity support from Robert Plant, Lady Gaga, Jimmy Page, Adam Lambert,[7] Tom Hanks,[8] Blake Lewis,[9] Melinda Doolittle,[10] Kris Allen,[11] Kelly Clarkson,[12] Ellen DeGeneres[13] and others, who picked Reinhart as their favorite. Robert Plant and Jimmy Page contacted Idol producers and allowed Reinhart to sing a Led Zeppelin song for Top 3 week.[14]
She is the only contestant from season 10 that has over one million views on three of her Youtube performance videos: her renditions of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep",[15] Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets"[16] and Ben E. King's "I (Who Have Nothing)".[17] Every video reached the million views in less than a month. Her version of "Rolling in the Deep" has since reached two million views as of June 20, 2011.
She's also the only contestant this season that received 3 standing ovations from the judges, 3 weeks in a row, after performing The Animals' version of "The House of the Rising Sun",[18] Ben E. King's "I (Who Have Nothing)"[17] and Led Zeppelin's "What Is and What Should Never Be".[19] Her performance of "Moanin'", with fellow contestant Casey Abrams, also received a standing ovation from the judges[20] and was considered one of the best duets, and performances, of the season.[21][22]
During the American Idol Finale, Reinhart sang "Steppin' Out with My Baby" alongside jazz singer Tony Bennett which also received a standing ovation.