11:57am Thursday 18th March 2010
© Press Association 2011
American Idol has said goodbye to the first of this year's finalists.
Lacey Brown got the boot after failing to win over the viewers when she performed alongside the rest of the Top 12.
The 24-year-old - who had performed the Rolling Stones' Ruby Tuesday - told host Ryan Seacrest after her dismissal: "I'm willing to keep working - I'm not going to stop singing, I'm going to keep singing for my fans and for myself because I love to do this, so I'm excited for the future."
During the eviction show it was revealed the judges - Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi - would once again be using their 'save' power this season.
Introduced on the US TV talent show last season, the one-time-only power allows the panel to rescue a contestant from being eliminated until the top five finalists have been selected. If they unanimously agree, no singer is eliminated that week but two will be sent packing the next week.
However, the judges decided against saving Lacey, who received the fewest viewer votes.
It wasn't a good night for Lacey's fellow Texans, either. Joining her in the bottom three were 24-year-old Paige Miles from Houston and 20-year-old Tim Urban from Duncansville.
:: American Idol is shown on ITV2 in the UK.
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