Pa. high school student latest booted off 'Idol'

[May 06, 2010]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Aaron Kelly won't be doing it his way on "American Idol" anymore.

The sheepish 17-year-old high school student from Sonestown, Pa., was eliminated Wednesday from the Fox singing competition. Kelly, the ninth season's youngest finalist, received the fewest viewer votes following his lukewarm interpretation of Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon" on Tuesday's Chairman of the Board-themed performance show.

"I've had a great time," he said following his dismissal.

Joining him in the bottom two was personal trainer Michael "Big Mike" Lynche, 26, from Queens, N.Y. Lynche, who was unanimously rescued by the show's judges three weeks ago, wowed the panel with his soulful rendition of "The Way You Look Tonight."

In recent weeks, Lynche has remained consistent, while Kelly struggled with the song selection.

Before the elimination, outrageous pop star Lady Gaga, outfitted in a fishnet body stocking and temporarily covered by a black veil, performed her song "Alejandro" with a troupe of throbbing topless male dancers. Harry Connick Jr., who served as this week's mentor, later crooned "And I Love Her" before accompanying the five finalists on a medley of his tunes.

The other contestants remaining in the singing competition are 24-year-old musician Crystal Bowersox of Toledo, Ohio; 24-year-old paint sales clerk Lee Dewyze of Mount Prospect, Ill.; and 27-year-old musician Casey James of Fort Worth, Texas.

Next week, the four finalists will be mentored by singer-actor Jamie Foxx and will perform cinema-themed songs.

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[Associated Press; By DERRIK J. LANG]

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