American Idol axed Skylar Laine and determined its Top 4 eleventh-season finalists during Thursday night's live results show broadcast on Fox.
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Laine, an 18-year-old from Brandon, MS, became the ninth finalist sent home from American Idol's eleventh season after she received the fewest home viewer votes following Wednesday night's performance show, which featured the Top 5 finalists each performing two songs, with the first being a hit from the 60's and the second being a British pop song.
"I miss my four wheeler so much, but I have plenty of time to go riding and only one time here. This whole experience has been incredible. I'll take a lot from this experience. I'll take friendships, memories and I'm going to put this towards my career in the future," Laine said following her ouster.
Prior to Laine's ouster, Hollie Cavanagh, an 18-year-old from McKinney, TX, was the other finalist still in danger of elimination and revealed by American Idol host Ryan Seacrest to be the other member of this week's bottom two vote-getters.
Laine -- who was one of the 10 finalists voted into the season's Top 13 by home viewers -- had received very positive reviews from Idol judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson following her first performance of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" on Wednesday's performance show.
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"You give us all this energy and it's amazing. It really is. It's like you attack every single song and it makes the crowd move and it makes everybody go crazy. It's so natural for you. It really is natural for you. And each week, we're seeing how much more comfortable you're getting and how much you're willing to be fearless out there, and that's what it takes," Lopez told her.
"Skylar, you love music and music loves you, and I particularly love it when you boot-scoot out there and take a risk and take it up a bunch of notches. It was just fabulous -- your dress, your voice, everything. I love it, I love it," Tyler said.
"You were born to be on a stage, so America, get ready for whenever it is. This girl was born to be doing what she's doing -- another great performance from you. They're right. You're just so comfortable. You're so in your element being on a stage and entertaining a crowd. You must love to do this the best," Jackson explained.
The judges loved Laine's second song just as much, if not more so, than her first when she took to the stage and sang a version of "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" by Dusty Springfield.
However, mentor and producer Jimmy Iovine said during tonight's Idol broadcast that Laine's song selections were somewhat poor when taking into account her vocal ability and potential in the competition and she'd need a breakthrough performance in the coming weeks to make it into the finale.
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"Wow Skylar, yo. So listen. I said this to someone earlier in Round 1. This is Round 2. You're definitely peaking at the right time. That was flawless; That was amazing. And every time you get up there, I believe you. I'm looking to see what you're going to sing, what you're going to do. I'm transfixed on everything you're doing. That's the mark of a good singer, and also, you're starting to tell the stories even more. I believe it. I just love it. Great job, great job, great job," Jackson said.
"You want to win don't you? You just might. With performances like that, you just might Skylar. You're winning over the hearts of America as we speak, really... You came out here totally composed and did that ballad that way... Everything is a natural moment. Everything up there for you, you know how to make it work. You know how to make it work. Congratulations," Lopez explained.
"Just more proof that it works when you work it, and I love that you decided to pick that song... You just took that song and you brought it into the 21st century, and you did so well. Congratulations," Tyler added.
In addition to Cavanagh, Joshua Ledet, Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips also still remain in the running for American Idol's eleventh-season title.
Nearly 60 million home-viewer votes -- the highest number of votes all season -- were cast following Wednesday night's performance show, according to Seacrest.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski