LOS ANGELES (AP) — Erika Van Pelt (far right) didn't cut it on "American Idol."
The 26-year-old disc jockey from South Kingstown, R.I., who dramatically chopped off her hair before Wednesday's evening of Billy Joel tunes was eliminated from the Fox singing contest.
Van Pelt didn't persuade the show's judges to save her from dismissal Thursday with a last-chance rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Believe In You and Me."
Van Pelt was revealed to be among the bottom three vote-getters with 17-year-old student DeAndre Brackensick of San Jose, Calif., and 22-year-old nonprofit organizer Heejun Han of New York.
The nine remaining finalists will return to the stage to perform for viewer votes next Wednesday.
