'Idol' voters eject crooner after uproar

American Idol didn't lose a great talent Wednesday night, but it did lose its juiciest story line.

John Stevens, the 16-year-old, shaky-voiced Sinatra disciple many believe should have been long gone, was sent home after receiving the fewest viewer votes after the six remaining contestants performed Gloria Estefan songs Tuesday.

Idol host Ryan Seacrest said more than 28-million votes were cast, more than for last year's finale. Entertainment Tonight reported that the performance show had about 23-million viewers.

Stevens was one of the weaker performers from the start of the final round of 12, but he had a Clay Aiken-like persona - humble, quiet, respectful, all-around good guy - that attracted a devoted fan base. That base was credited with keeping him in the competition while others perceived to be better singers were voted out, and he became a target of criticism that ranged from mild to venomous bile.

The past week was his roughest after he survived a round of Barry Manilow songs and big-voiced Jennifer Hudson was voted out. Even before last Wednesday's results show was over, Seacrest and the Idol judges were lecturing viewers about keeping the talented people in the contest. This week, judge Simon Cowell was among those saying Stevens had received threats, and Entertainment Tonight reported that Stevens' mother talked to Idol producers after hearing a radio DJ say no one should worry about her son because "somebody will take him out" at the first concert of the next Idol tour.

After this week's performances, Stevens, who did Music of My Heart, was one of the three lowest votegetters along with George Huff and Jasmine Trias. Huff received the second-lowest number of votes.

Stevens, who remained stoic throughout, said he was somewhat relieved that his Idol time was over.

In other Idol news, Elton John joined the public discourse on the voting in general. John, who rehearsed with the contestants this season for a show of his songs, said he finds the viewers' choices "incredibly racist" because La Toya London and Fantasia Barrino, who are still in the competition, and Hudson, all "black, young, female singers," had appeared in the bottom three.

"These three girls would have the talent to be members of the Royal Academy (of Music) or Juilliard," John said at a New York City news conference Tuesday promoting several concerts he'll do in June.

In an unrelated conference call, Hudson said she had no idea why she was ejected, but "if it was based on talent, I know I was robbed."

"If it wasn't based on talent, I don't know what it was based on," she said.

Her only complaint about the show was that she believes the three judges never appropriately appreciated her. "I feel overall, I can't complain," she said.

- Information from the Associated Press and Scripps Howard News Service was used in this report.

Entertainment headlines