American Idol Shocker - Melinda Doolittle Eliminated

Say it ain't so! Melinda Doolittle goes home. (Photo courtesy of AmericanIdol.com)

In a stunning result that proved American Idol is a popularity contest more than a talent search, Melinda Doolittle was voted off of the nation's most popular show on Wednesday night.

Doolittle is one of the few contestants who has consistently won praise from hardass judge Simon Cowell, but she couldn't convince enough of the country's voters to advance her to the finals. A 3/2 choice to win the Fox show's sixth season, Doolittle leaves while long-shot Blake Lewis survives. He will try to beat out favorite Jordin Sparks, whose American Idol odds are 5/6. Lewis is at 7/2 in the Bodog Sportsbook.

The winner will be chosen next week, with the final performance episode on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET and the results show on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET.