生于1992年4月27日，加利福尼亚州洛杉矶。是《美国偶像》第八季的决赛选手。她有萨尔瓦多血统。　　2006年，艾利森赢得了美国第二大西班牙语电视台Telemundo台的真人秀节目《Quinceaera》，奖品是5万美金和一份唱片合约。　　艾利森在加州旧金山参加了《美国偶像》第八季的海选。成为第四个进入13强的选手，她是那组得票最高的女选手。评委西蒙和兰迪-杰克逊（Randy Jackson ）认为她是“这个比赛中值得关注的选手”。兰迪-杰克逊在8强表演赛中说：“ 你让我想到了《美国偶像》第一季冠军凯莉-克拉克森（Kelly Clarkson）。”其他评委也表示了赞同。 　　 　　by Andrew Leahey 　　Boasting mature, rock-influenced vocals that belied her young age, 17 year-old Allison Iraheta became the most popular female in American Idol's 2009 season. The daughter of Salvadorian parents, she logged numerous performances in the Latino community before her multi-month run on Idol, even winning a bilingual singing competition on the Telemundo network in 2006. American Idol proved to be her launching pad, however, as she finished in fourth place behind contenders Danny Gokey, Adam Lambert, and Kris Allen. During a summer tour with the entire cast, Iraheta became one of the season's first singers to land a record deal, securing representation with 19/Jive Records in early June. She then set to work on her debut album, releasing her first single -- the Max Martin-penned "Friday I'll Be Over U" -- several months after the tour's conclusion.