Hollie Cavanagh wrapped up Thursday night's American Idol TV show in tears.

But not because she was sent home.

The sensitive Cavanagh, who has become close friends with most all of the other contestants, cried because her Hollywood roommate, Mississippi country crooner Skylar Laine went home instead.

Idol host Ryan Seacrest said nearly 60 million votes were counted in the voting period following Wednesday's live performances.

Not that Hollie, a 2011 McKinney Boyd graduate, escaped the bottom two. Of course not. She's been sent to the "bottom" and forced to sweat out her fate for the past three weeks by Idol producers. But in all three weeks, she survived and lived to see another week.

This time, Hollie learned she is in the Final 4 of the popular Fox show. Performances resume next Wednesday, May 9, at 7 p.m.

Jimmy Iovine, the Idol coach, had said he thought Hollie was safe for the week beause of her performance during Wednesday's live show -- especially in her opening song, Tina Turner's River Deep, Mountain High. He said he was just OK with her second performance, Bleeding Love.

"This is critical week for Hollie," Iovine said. "We all know she needed a game changer."

According to Hollie, "It was time to just go for it."

And the judges loved it. If you missed TSB's coverage of their reaction on Wednesday night, pelase click here for that story, including pictures and video from TSB's Hollie Watch Party at the McKinney Performing Arts Center.

But the judges' love wasn't enough to save her from the last-minute drama once again.

"Hollie, unfortunately, you're in the bottom two tonight," Seacrest said early in Thursday's live elimination show. "We'll send you to the stools."'

Off she went to a familiar place. And waited. She listened to Coldplay perform their second song, her head bowed while snuggling next to Skylar.

"Honestly, I think this is the best top five we've ever had on this show," judge Randy Jackson said.

Someone had to go. And only four remain. Hollie, a pop-style artist with a beautiful, big voice; bluesy rocker Phillip Phillips, the soulful Joshua Ledet, and pop diva Jessica Sanchez.

Another week, she lives on.

• Login or register to post comments