Carly Smithson

Tonight's American Idol results may not have been as shocking as the night Michael Johns was shown the door. But there's no way we imagined anyone not named Brooke White would be going home.

Instead - because viewers obviously felt sorry for White after she forgot the lyrics to "You Must Love Me" on Tuesday night - Carly Smithson was voted out.

The look on the face of Carly Smithson below says it all:

No Effin Way!!!!

Last night's American Idol saw a farewell to Chikezie.

It also marked the end of what would have been a major bombshell, but now appears to be nothing more than standard American Idol gossip.

With American Idol having chosen its top 12 singers for the finals, we need to make our weekly Power Poll more of a challenge.

Choosing the top five contenders at this point in the competition would be listing almost half the remaining singers. And that's too easy.

We're a little afraid to hear what former co-workers of David Hernandez would say about that American Idol contestant.

But TMZ spoke to some of Carly Smithson's former co-workers San Diego Irish bar The Field. Here's what they had to say about the Irish singer:

The top two spots on this week's American Idol Power Poll hold healthy leads over the rest of the field. That's what happens when you make Paula Abdul cry and sing Simon Cowell's theme song with such restraint and beauty.

Here are the current rankings:

Carly Smithson is at the center of an American Idol debate: should singers with a professional background have an opportunity to audition on the show?

The contestant recently talked to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about her previous recording contract and failed album "Ultimate High," released in 2001.

As we reported a few weeks ago, American Idol finalist Carly Smithson is no stranger to the music business.

The Irish crooner released a CD in 2001 entitled "Ultimate High." Despite a $2 million promotional campaign from MCA records, the album tanked. Now, Carly is getting another shot at stardom on Idol.

Now that American Idol has whittled down its contestants to the final 24, our Power Poll gets serious.

Only talented competitors remain in what many followers consider to be the show's most impressive season to date. But who is leading the pack heading into tomorrow night's performance of the top 12 males. Let's find out...

We're off to Hollywood!

As American Idol enters its fifth week of auditions, the show truly begins: contestants are judged in Hollywood and only the best of the best move one. Before they do, however, let's rank the top hopefuls so far in our third Power Poll of the season...

As we prepare for the fourth week of American Idol auditions, it seems like a good time to break out our second Power Poll of the season.

With six solid episodes under our belt, here's how The Hollywood Gossip staff ranks this year's early contenders: