Utah's Carmen is out — but calls 'Idol' a dream

Carmen Rasmusen isn't going to be the "American Idol." She was eliminated from the hit Fox TV talent show Wednesday night after receiving the fewest phone-in votes this week from viewers.

But that doesn't mean the Utah teen won't come out of this a winner.

"This is great exposure," she said. "I get to sing in front of the whole country. Where else can you get this kind of exposure?"

And, after being chosen as a "wild card" finalist, the 18-year-old Woods Cross High School senior got to perform on national television nine times (including Monday's non-competitive edition of "American Idol") and appeared eight more times on each week's voting results shows.

Not bad for someone who was originally eliminated from the show after being one of 78 contestants invited to a second round of auditions in Hollywood.

Rasmusen was one of four singers selected from among eight "wild cards" to join the final dozen. Her invitation came courtesy of judge Simon Cowell, who made her his personal choice.

Ironically, Rasmusen delivered one of her better performances this week, singing "Love Will Lead You Back" on Tuesday's show.

"You bounced back from last week and you redeemed yourself for your own personal best," said judge Paula Abdul. And guest judge Diane Warren added, "I agree. This is the best I've heard you sing."

But Randy Jackson, who never had anything good to say about Rasmusen, was more negative than ever. "This is the search for the next would-be superstar. We're trying to find the best in America. I don't think you are even close," he said.

And Cowell sort of agreed with both sides. "You were better than last week. Having said that, we're in the final six of the competition — you can't win this competition," Cowell said. "However, you've done well to get this far."

Indeed, she made it to the final six from more than 50,000 who tried out for the show.

Remaining in competition are Ruben Studdard, Kimberley Locke, Clay Aiken, Trenyce and Joshua Gracin.

Just moments after learning she'd been eliminated, Rasmusen described her run on the show as: "Incredible. No other words, just a dream come true."

And her "American Idol" experience isn't quite over yet. She will join the other finalists on an multi-city concert tour.