'American Idol' top 4 results recap

AMERICAN IDOL XIII: Jessica Meuse performs on AMERICAN IDOL XIII airing Wednesday, May 7 (8:00-10:00 PM ET / PT) on FOX. CR: Michael Becker / FOX. Copyright 2014 / FOX Broadcasting. Jessica Meuse had her ups and downs during the competition but should be proud of making it as far as she did. She might have a shot at country glory. CREDIT: Fox

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

AMERICAN IDOL XIII: Jessica Meuse performs on AMERICAN IDOL XIII airing Wednesday, May 7 (8:00-10:00 PM ET / PT) on FOX. CR: Michael Becker / FOX. Copyright 2014 / FOX Broadcasting. Jessica Meuse had her ups and downs during the competition but should be proud of making it as far as she did. She might have a shot at country glory. CREDIT: Fox

There would be no Daughtry-like shock departure tonight.

Instead, it was a consensus departure this week with Jessica Meuse, who inexplicably thought she was a pure pop star last night with songs by Pink, Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson. Who told her to do that? She's more a bluesy country singer.

Her strength was a strong, unique voice but for many weeks, she possessed a vacant look in her eyes and terrible rhythmic movement below the waist. She did improve in recent weeks and was finding her groove but simply faced three strong contestants she couldn't outlast. She was our very own wounded robin, especially in Hollywood but her mood seemed to lift the more time she lasted on the show.

Too bad she won't get a hometown visit. We'll never get to see what Slapout, Ala. is all about!

Alex Preston found himself in the bottom two for the first time, leaving Caleb as the remaining contestant who has never been a bottom dweller. (That "retard" comment Caleb more sincerely apologized for this week? It came and went like a temporary cough, a sign that "Idol' is now way off the pop culture radar screen. I bet most Caleb fans had no clue what had happened. Can you imagine if Bo Bice or Taylor Hicks or David Cook had said something like that? Those were the days...)

It seems now that a Jena/Caleb finale is the likeliest scenario. But who will win?

Alex, by the way, is the most successful singer ever to come from New England, which has had a dismal track record on the show over 13 years.  Seriously, I can't think of a notable contestant to ever hail from any of the six states that encompass that area until now.

About the Author

Editors' Picks