Elliott Yamin Voted of America Idol

Elliott Yamin has been voted off “American Idol,” leaving the show with finalists Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee.

In a close vote, Abdul’s favorite finalist, Elliott Yamin â€” an “Idol” underdog and blue-eyed soul singer â€” was bounced off the Fox talent contest during Wednesday’s elimination show. The exit of the 27-year-old Richmond, Va., resident cleared the path for a final showdown between gray-haired Taylor Hicks and sultry Katharine McPhee. The winner will be crowned May 24.

During Wednesday’s program, Yamin told host Ryan Seacrest he felt “truly blessed.” “I hope it doesn’t stop here,” he said of his music career.

Yamin, who is 90 percent deaf in his right ear, was considered the show’s best â€” and most sensitive â€” male singer. When “Idol” featured a segment on Wednesday documenting his return home to greet fans in Virginia, he broke down in tears. Abdul also wept.

Judge Simon Cowell seemed to sense Yamin’s impending departure on Tuesday’s program. “Your songs are not going to carry you through to next week â€” that’s the problem,” Cowell told Yamin, who had performed a cover of Ray Charles’ “I Believe To My Soul.” “However, you are a great guy. You are a great singer. And whatever happens, you will make your mom very proud for what you’ve achieved for this competition.”

The nature of the competition is that someone who is a great genre singer–think Josh Grasin–can not win. The show rewards versatility and the ability to do at least reasonably well in a wide variety of formats. That has very little to do with actual musical stardom, where few artists stray too far from their comfort zone. The true greats like Ray Charles and Elvis Presley, are rare exceptions.

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Elliott Yamin Voted of America Idol

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