American Idol Backstage Scoop: Is Jennifer Lopez Leaving? Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson Talk Future of Judges' Panel

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There's no elimination on American Idol that sucks as much as the week before the grand finale. 

After more than two months of competition, elaborate star treatment and achieving celebrity status overnight, no one wants to be sent home. 

Unfortunately, only two could move on and with an amazing Wednesday-night performance from all the contestants, it was impossible to not be disappointed by the cut. So what did the eliminated singer have to say after the show and what did Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler have to say about Jennifer Lopez possibly leaving her judging seat behind? The stars spilled after the show!

American Idol was absolutely poppin' Thursday night! It is the biggest show of the season before the finale, and the entire studio audience was going nuts! From our seat behind the judges' table we saw all the action. From the eliminated contestants sitting four rows away from us cheering on the final three to witnessing Jennifer almost tripping over her flowy gown, the mood was electric while we all waited for the big reveal of the top two!

After Jimmy Iovine's video package critiqued of each contestant, and a pretaped Lisa Marie Presley performance (shocker, albeit her song "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" kind of ruled!) the Idol audience was treated to a live performance from season eight runner-up Adam Lambert! 

Adam's performances are always nothing short of magic and he did not disappoint. Performing his hit single "Never Close Our Eyes" the entire audience was going bananas and had a hard time settling down as the show cut to commercial. We love him! Then it was time for the inevitable…elimination. As the top three stood in a group hug minutes before going live to hear the results, everyone seemed super chill and supportive of one another. 

While it was kind of a given from the female fan base that Phillip Phillips would make it to the finale, jaws couldn't help but drop when Joshua Ledet was handed the news that his Idol journey was over.  Joshua seemed to be taking the elimination pretty hard after the show as we witnessed him openly crying and producer Nigel Lythgoe patting his back and telling him, "Chin up! Chin up!" When we caught up with Joshua after the show, he had collected himself and told us the tears came from everyone else crying and that he was genuinely happy for Jessica Sanchez  and Phillip.

"I don't think I was upset about [being eliminated] because I was super happy for Jessica and Phillip," he said. "I was definitely not upset. I felt relieved a lot of the pressure was off of me and I feel really good. I'm not going to say I was surprised [by my elimination] because Jessica and Phillip are amazing and have huge fan bases and they deserve it. I don't think I would have cried but when people come up to you and try to comfort you and hugging you then the tears start coming."

When we asked Adam what he thought of Joshua's exit he said no one would have been able to predict who would be cut tonight. 

"All three of them are such talented singers," he told us. "I was really anyone's race at that point. Joshua is nuts. He can sing circles around a lot of people on the charts right now so he'll be fine, and I think the other two are phenomenal. They are really fun watch, charming and they are both cute!"

Steven and Randy also stopped by the press tent to talk about the finale, but also touched on the judging panel lineup in the coming seasons. Will Jennifer be joining them?

"Of course [we'd want to carry on this panel]," Randy said. "Next season, 13, 14, 100, but yeah! I mean, of course! We're a nice, happy, gregarious, cool, evanescence kind of family."

"A dysfunctional family," Steven chimed in.