Rick Mickshaw/FOXJust like in a country song, someone's heart ended up broken tonight.
Meanwhile, the Top 10 who emerged with their dreams intact from Wednesday's American Idol results show are headed out on tour this summer.
As was the case last week, before the haves were permanently separated from the have-not, the otherwise cast-off contestant had one last chance to prove she (yes, she) deserved to stick around.
Simon Cowell even said they were considering using their veto power to keep someone onboard.
But the judges' privilege to save one contestant this season remained in the lockbox for another time, and one of the trio who somewhat surprisingly ended up at the bottom of the heap last night was treated to a farewell montage instead.
Ultimately, after Allison Iraheta, inexplicably in the bottom three after a strong showing on Grand Ole Opry Tuesday, was ushered back to safety, and Michael Sarver—not so strong—was revealed as the second-least vote getter, Alexis Grace was left to sing for her Idol life.
The direness of Grace's "Jolene" encore was made all the more palpable as she was forced to perform in front of four conspiring judges who were frantically discussing something while the 21-year-old single mom sang her heart out.
"It was good, but it wasn't good enough," said Simon, who we're pretty sure was referring to Alexis and not Michael when he talked about saving someone. "Sorry. It's the end of the line, I'm afraid."
"I wish I could have done better, but things happen for a reason, so..." Grace began.
"So you have peace as you say goodbye?" prompted Ryan Seacrest.
"I do," she replied.
Earlier in the evening, Seacrest immediately ferried to safety Danny Gokey and Lil Rounds, whose spots in the final are practically preordained. Anoop Desai, who last night fiercely reasserted himself as a force to be reckoned with, was right up there with them.
Despite having to wait for Brad Paisley to croon his new single, "Then," Scott MacIntyre, Megan Joy and Kris Allen were painlessly granted slots on the American Idols Live tour, as well.
Adam Lambert, who sure didn't look as if he was doubting last night's controversial (albeit awesome) reworking of "Ring of Fire" despite Simon's reassurance that it was "absolutely horrible," was the last of the unendangered hopefuls to line up for tour duty.
This week's mentor, Randy Travis, also showed up to duet with Carrie Underwood on the Idol champ's tear-jerkin' tune "I Told You So."
No Idol next Tuesday (to make way for a presidential address), but the Top 10 will honor the best of Motown on Wednesday.
(Originally published March 18, 2009, at 7:15 p.m. PT)