One hundred ninety-three people arrived in Hollywood for American Idol IV auditions. After three days of Boot Camp seventy-five people remained. From this point in the competition, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson had the task of narrowing the competition to forty-four. On Tuesday, February 15th 2005, America watched the judges' process of elimination. What we witnessed was "a pure show of emotion."

Day Four in Hollywood

After long hours and sleepless nights, the seventy-five remaining contestants were divided into four groups.

Two groups would be moving on to the next round and two would be going home.

We watched Paula put on her best show, as an actress, as she set up those whose American Idol hopes would continue. These contestants were, for a moment, led to believe they may be going home.

Room One, Room Two, Room Three and Room Four. Which were the lucky rooms? Which rooms were full of people about to be cut from the competition?

In their last performance in front of the judges, the contestants received no feedback, no critiques, no decisions.

As host Ryan Seacrest said, "All they had [going into one of four rooms] was the faith in their own performance."

Room One

Randy and Paula were given the task of breaking the news. Paula said:

For us, these past four days have been nothing but joy.

We have never heard such amazing talent as we have from you guys.

Randy chimed in and said, with a bit of a hopeful tone:

It's taken us hours and hours to deliberate, but we have to deliver the news to all of the rooms and you guys are the first of the day.

I'm sad to say you guys are going home.

It's the end of the line.

Just keep the journey going.

Those talented hopefuls we said goodbye to included:

Sharon Galvez, the singing cocktail waitress from Las Vegas;

Shunta Warthen, from Burlington New Jersey, who got on the wrong bus on the first day of auditions but had confidence, after her performances that she was going to make it;

Angel Higgs, the twenty-four year-old music teacher from Knoxville Tennessee, who came to American Idol to see her student through but ended up coming to Hollywood alone;

Rashida Johnson, the twenty-eight year-old from S. Ozone Park New York, who just wanted her "mommy";

Sean McNeill, the youth pastor from Plymouth Mass, who gave a strong performance on his last day;

We shared their agony and their sorrow. We were rooting for many of them.

Room Two

Paula and Randy entered Room Two.

Paula's "Hi guys" sounded sad. Was it an act? Or were Paula and Randy about to send a room full of talented, hopeful Idols packing their bags?

All shapes, sizes and genres of talent were in the room. Country singers. Rockers. Balladeers. Hip-hop artists. R&B soul singers.

Paula said, "first, give yourselves a round of applause."

Randy said:

This is the part where the competition thing really comes in because somebody has to stay and somebody has to go. Their are winners and losers.

It's just so hard for us because, you know, we fall in love with everybody during the process.

We were cheering you on as you were cheering yourselves on.

This is the really hard, hard part for us. It's tough; it's so tough.

Could the look at the contestants faces be more painful?

With Randy shaking his head "no" and Paula, looking down at the floor, you'd think they were doomed.

But instead, Paula gave it to them. She said:

Unfortunately, I have to be in the position to say "no" to...

the other rooms, but...

"We're through!" shouted one of the guys in the room.

And with that, Paula and Randy entirely changed their expressions from pain and sorrow to shared joy.

The room erupted.

For about twenty-two contestants, their hope remained alive ... for at least one more day.

They hugged each other. They cried.

We, around America cried and jumped for joy too.

You might call that "total elation."

As we watched them call their families, hug each other for the fortieth time, or stick out their tongue in a "ya baby, I made it way" as Constantine did, they were overwhelmed with emotion. And we, at home, were too.

The contestants highlighted in this room, included:

Mario Vasquez, the twenty-seven year-old from New York City, made his mother proud and all the fans back home who were cheering him on from the East Coast. The guy with Fedora was called "one of the best they'd seen" by Simon in the first auditions. And he remains one of the best to come.

Matthew Kester, the twenty-three year-old from Hollister, Missouri

Carrie Underwood, the twenty-one year-old from Checotah Oklahoma went back to her country roots during her solo unaccompanied performance. The blonde beauty who grew up on a farm has it going on, no matter what the ultimate outcome of American Idol IV. She even has two fan sites cheering her on:

Judd Harris, the twenty-seven year-old from New York, had his fellow competitors behind him during his solo performance. The judges were obviously also behind his rendition of Ride Sally Ride;

Three of our other favorite guys were in this room: Constantine, the rocker from New York who left his band at home, David Brown, and the handsome music teacher with dreadlocks, Anwar Robinson.

Vonzell Solomon, the twenty year-old from Fort Myers, Florida who wore the hot pink hoop earrings during her solo performance, jumped through hoops to go from U.S. Mail Carrier to American Music Delivery Queen. During her solo performance, she spoke directly to Randy. Her Carole King rendition of Natural Woman caught Randy's attention, the other two judges and all of America.

Did I say those earrings were "hot pink?"

Room Three

Walking in with happy faces, it was a dead give-away, these guys were going home.

Randy started out the spiel:

Alright. You guys have gotta be so happy about the journey and what's happened.

We were just saying outside, 'This is the most unbelievable talent we've had.'

Paula chimed in, "We've agonizing over the deliberation."

She went on to lay down the judgment by saying, "The road stops for you here. It doesn't go one from her unfortunately. Don't let the dream die though."

Randy expressed his thanks before the tears started to stream from the room.

Those we will not see again this year include:

Dezmond Meeks, the twenty-one year-old from Pineville, Louisiana sounded to Paula like James Brown, in his initial auditions. He sang Marvin Gaye's I Heard Through The Grapevine in his final performance.

Jennifer Todd, the twenty-seven year-old from Ontario California belted out "I'm So Excited, I Just Can't Hide It..." She wanted it. She felt it. But it would not be.

Carrie Zaruba, the twenty-seven year-old from Philadelphia told the judges that she learned "about fortitude this week." She sang Stevie Wonder's Lately. Afterwards, she said she had no regrets about this week.

We will miss them and especially that crooner with the top hat.

Room Four

Ryan confirmed for the millions watching that the kids in Room Four will be staying.

We knew it, but they didn't.

Paula's acting skills were put to the test as the contestants were fooled into believing, however, that they may be going home.

Randy began by saying:

This is the part of the competition that gets the toughest for us because we have to say goodbye to some people.

It's as painful for us as it is for many of you.

You could feel the tension in the room.

A Room Full of Emotion

Paula, looking like she was about to cry, said:

It's a true testament to your talent.

It's made it extremely, extremely difficult and painstaking because you guys are so talented and it's made it so hard.

I've had the unbelievable experience of seeing the most amazing talent, and having to say 'no', therefore you're going to come back and see us ...."

Paula's act needn't go any further. They got it. They got it. This group was "in."

Both Randy and Paula got "dawg-piled" on.

Randy yelled "Congratulations guys!" as the jubilation began.

A few of the American Idol hopefuls profiled by the producers included:

Jessica Sierra, the nineteen year-old from Tampa Florida wore a black leather hat and a pink flower on her long black sparkly coat during her solo performance of The Boys Are Back In Town. She had the moves, the groove and the voice -- a bit like Pastiche - to carry her into the next round. And that they did -- on her birthday, no less. What a gift!

She was one of the first to call home.

Mikalah Gordon, the sixteen year-old from Las Vegas was touted as the "most confident sixteen year-old" by Simon. And rightfully so!

She also had confidence that the other contestants find her to be "fun, funny and nice."

Upon hearing the news, she also called home. We heard her say, "I can't stop crying."

Scott Savol, the twenty-eight year-old from the Cleveland area, made it into the top 44. But would he be one of the top twelve contenders? (That story up next.)

Lindsey Cardinale, the nineteen year-old from Ponchoatoula, Louisians was in the right room and had the right lucky charm. The horse shoe in her pocket means "faith". #52808 wore a pink camisole during her solo performance. Those watching may not remember that small fact about her, but they may remember her eyes.

Linsey has obvious talent. And she wins the competition for having the longest eye lashes.

Congratulations to all 44 contestants who withstood the pressure and the emotion. Congratulations to those who gracefully said goodbye.

Congratulations to all the parents who had to wait from afar to receive a call full of tears of joy or sorrow.

And congratulations to the judges who took three weeks to narrow the competition down from over 100,000 wannabes to 193 hopefuls to less than fifty potential idols.

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "being in the right room" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King

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