'American Idol' Axes Another Contestant

[March 20, 2008]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Amanda Overmyer sang "Back in the U.S.S.R." -- and now, she's going back home. The 23-year-old nurse from Mulberry, Ind., was voted off "American Idol" Wednesday, leaving 10 hopefuls to vie for the title and record contract.

Overmyer -- a crowd-pleasing performer with streaked hair and a flair for southern rock -- seemed to take her departure from the Fox show in stride.

"It's been a run. ... No. 11 out of all them people is more than I could expect," she told host Ryan Seacrest.

Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook were the other lowest vote-getters.

Cook, a 24-year-old from Selma, Ore., has been a bottom-three fixture in the past weeks and the finalist that judge Simon Cowell picks on the most.

Cowell -- who has called Cook "forgettable" and compared her voice to "Dolly Parton on helium" -- continued his harsh criticism Tuesday after the country singer's take on the Beatles' "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away."

"(You're) like musical wallpaper, insomuch as you notice it, but you can't remember it," he said. "And that's what you're doing week after week: You're making no impact."

Cook talked back to the acid-tongued judge, saying: "I can blow you out of your socks, and you know it."

Wednesday's "Idol" featured a performance by season-five finalist Kellie Pickler.

Seacrest also announced this year's roster of celebrity mentors: Parton, Mariah Carey, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Neil Diamond.

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On the Net:

http://www.americanidol.com/

[Associated Press; By ERIN CARLSON]

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