In the Wednesday night elimination show's last segment, Simon Cowell told host Ryan Seacrest that the judges would consider using their recently announced "save" to keep Alexis Grace, the lowest vote-getter. Simon said her fate would depend on her performance of Dolly Parton's Jolene. She sounded absolutely desperate. Simon's final assessment: "It was good, but it wasn't good enough."

While Alexis has the long-gone lonesome blues, Allison Iraheta and Michael Sarver also found themselves in the bottom three. At least they'll be going on the Idols Live summer tour, which takes the 10 top finalists on the road.

The show also featured performances by three Opry members, with Brad Paisley giving his new single, Then, its television debut, and former Idol winner Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis singing a duet of I Told You So, a Travis song that has been a single for both artists.