American Idol eliminated Aaron Kelly and determined its Top 4 ninth-season finalists during Wednesday night's live results show broadcast on Fox.
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Kelly -- a 17-year-old high school student from Sonestown, PA -- became the eighth finalist ousted from American Idol's ninth-season competition after he received the fewest home viewer votes following Tuesday night's live performance show that saw the Top 5 finalists perform Frank Sinatra songs and be mentored by Harry Connick, Jr.
"After the nationwide vote, the person whose Idol journey comes to an end unfortunately tonight is... Aaron Kelly," American Idol host Ryan Seacrest announced.
"Aaron Kelly, everybody. Did you ever imagine standing up here like this, surviving this many weeks on the show, with this much pressure?" Seacrest asked after Kelly's elimination.
"Not at all. I've had a great time. I've had a blast," replied Kelly, who remained upbeat and smiling.
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"I want every kid to be able to follow their dream like I have. Don't ever let anybody tell you you can't do something because you can if you work at it," he added in a video clip that aired following his ouster.
Over 32 million votes were cast following Tuesday night's performance show, according to Seacrest.
Prior to Kelly's elimination, Michael Lynche was revealed to be the other member of this week's bottom two vote-getters. Lynche, a 26-year-old personal trainer from Astoria, NY, was also in last week's bottom three and saved from elimination via the use of the one-time "The Judges' Save" voting override early last month.
Kelly had opened Tuesday night's show with a "Fly Me To The Moon" performance that had failed to blow away American Idol judges Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi, and Randy Jackson. However given Kelly's young age, they had still given him mostly favorable feedback.
"I got to tell you dude, I was so worried more probably about you, because you're so young, [but] dude, you did a really good job. Nice work Aaron," Jackson said.
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"I was worried also for you and I can not believe -- I did not hear any country in that at all, I felt like you really pulled that off. That was beautiful vocals. Beautiful," DeGeneres added.
"Aaron, I thought it was good. I did. I think compared to last week though, it wasn't as strong," DioGuardi said. "What I want you to learn a little bit more is a little bit more charisma. Fill up the stage more. You know Frank Sinatra was just about as tall as you but he filled everything up, and he commanded it... this isn't a negative, this is constructive criticism, okay honey?"
"I'm more with Kara on this one because... I adore Frank because Frank was the king of cool. He had a swagger, he had a believability. And if he was a lion, you were just a mouse," Cowell said. "It didn't have the conviction for me and I thought the vocals toward the end were a bit corny. But the one thing about you, which is a good thing, is that people like you after you perform. Because you do try hard and I'm going to give you that."
In addition to Lynche, Lee Dewyze, Casey James and Crystal Bowersox -- the competition's only remaining woman -- are the other finalists still in the running for American Idol's ninth-season title.
About The Author: Steven Rogers