Melinda Doolittle "really feels that she won" · 2007-05-18 16:12
Melinda Doolittle says she did better than she thought she would when she learned she was getting the boot from "American Idol."
"It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be," Doolittle told reporters.
Doolittle had been considered a lock to get into the finale. However, when the votes from Tuesday were counted, viewers chose Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks to go into next week's final, New York Daily News reports.
Doolittle, at 29 the oldest of the three finalists, said she was up against two "amazing" contestants. "I really feel, personally, that I've won," said Doolittle, who has worked as a professional backup singer.
"All of the judges were so sweet to me afterwards and really encouraging about what's to come," she said.
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