AMERICAN IDOL Recap: IDOL Cuts to 3 with Hometown Visits on the Line

After Top-11 Week, when the remaining contestants get to spend their summer on our, this is the most important reward for IDOL finalists surviving elimination. The Top-3 will quickly depart Hollywood and for the annual Hometown Cry-Fests, so tonight's elimination has even more riding on it than normal.

After what was one of the strongest nights of IDOL's season, including an all-time great performance by Jena Irene, the suspense was high for this elimination. When you factor in the week of controversies surrounding a number of the finalists, anything could happen when Ryan Seacrest asked the lights to be dimmed.

Fortunately there was very little filler in this week's elimination episode, so, on to the eliminations:

Safe (in order of announcement)
Jena Irene
Caleb Johnson
Alex Preston

Eliminated
Jessica Meuse

After the look-back package, Jessica sang her original song "Blue Eyed Lie;" probably the only song she has fully performed this year. All season Jena, Caleb, and Alex (in that order) have been my favorites, so I am glad that they are getting to head home.

So, are you ok with Jessica being eliminated? Whose hometown visit are you most excited to see? Let me know in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt.