Melinda Doolittle leaves "American Idol" · 2007-05-17 12:16
"American Idol" voters kicked Melinda Doolittle, 29, the most experienced professional singer, out of the running on Wednesday.
Melinda, a long-time backup singer who has stunned the show's judges and viewers with her voice since entering the competition, was voted out in a closely fought contest by a telephone vote.
Her departure leaves Blake Lewis, 25, and Jordin Sparks, 17, as the finalists in the sixth season of "American Idol", Washington Post reports.
"You already have made it," said Paula Abdul, one of the three judges on the Fox network series that ranks as America's most popular television show.
Acerbic fellow judge Simon Cowell, who has backed Doolittle as a singer throughout the contest was full of praise.
"Congratulations to you. You are one heck of a singer," he said.
Doolittle, from Brentwood, Tennessee, entered the annual contest with years of experience as a backup singer while Sparks, of Glendale, Arizona, has won children's contests but cannot boast the same level of experience.
Lewis, who is a full-time musician, won over "American Idol" viewers with his personality.
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