Posted on 05/18/2006 11:47:22 AM PDT by pissant
Elliott Yamin was voted off American Idol Wednesday night, leaving Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee to battle it out next week.
When it was revealed that Yamin was going home, the audience gasped, Paula Adbul cried and Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks hugged him.
But it was over for Yamin, although Ryan Seacrest said he'd lost by an extremely narrow margin: Yamin received 33.06 percent of the final tally, a record 50 million votes.
Without naming names, Seacrest said the other singers racked up 33.26 and 33.68 percent of the votes.
"I'm very proud, and I'm honored," Yamin said, adding that he felt "truly blessed to take advantage of this opportunity." The 27-year-old from Richmond, Va., also indicated his mother and brother in the audience and said he was "so blessed to be able to experience this" with them.
On Tuesday's show, Simon Cowell had predicted Elliott wouldn't make it to the next round. "Your songs are not going to carry you through to next week – that's the problem," Cowell said after Yamin delivered his rendition of Ray Charles's "I Believe to My Soul."
"However, you are a great guy," Cowell continued. "You are a great singer. And whatever happens, you will make your mom very proud for what you've achieved for this competition."
Abdul recently told Teen People that Yamin was her choice to win. On Tuesday's show, she told him, "You pierce through the heart."
The winner will be revealed next Wednesday during a live, two-hour finale. Cowell, who in the past accurately predicted Carrie Underwood's victory, this week told Jay Leno on the Tonight Show that he expects Hicks to take the crown.
Exactly. $5 cover and 2 dollar drafts will bring the crowds. ;o)
Kinda like guys. We see a pizza and a pitcher of beer, and Katy bar the door. ;o)
If the vote is close, all of the cynics who organize themselves on votefortheworst.com may push Hicks over the top. He's their pick.
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