Lee University student Jermaine Purifory was eliminated from the competition in tonight's Fox television episode of "American Idol."
Mr. Purifory had been a front-runner during competition and portrayed as one of the judges' favorites. Judge Ellen DeGeneres used a clip of him singing in the group night round of competition as background for a comedy sketch on her afternoon talk show.
Through auditions in seven cities, 181 singers each received a "golden ticket" to the Hollywood round. Mr. Purifory survived two rounds of cuts by judges to make the top 71 before being cut.