'American Idol' Season 13 Recap: Kristen O'Connor goes home as competition moves to Top 12

For once, one of American Idol's weakest singers actually went home on the first night of the show. After season 13's inaugural live show Wednesday night (Feb. 26), the top 13 was whittled down to 12 and wildcard pick Kristen O'Connor was sent packing.

Thursday night's (Feb. 27) edition of American Idol was all business. After the top 13, in matchy-matchy all-white outfits, performed a show choir-esque version of Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive," the first four contestants were called up to the stage. Malaya Watson, Jena Irene, Ben Briley and Alex Preston all nervously were called to host Ryan Seacrest, who quickly announced Ben, Alex and Jena were safe, sending wacky fan favorite Malaya to the bottom three.

Though her personality makes her shine, Malaya's take on Bruno Mars' "Runaway Baby" was all energy and little proper, on-pitch singing, shockingly sending her near the bottom.

Between dramatic calls to the stage, Idol hosted two performers last night, the first of whom was last season's winner Candice Glover, who took on a "medley" of her "biggest hits" "Cried" and "Same Kinda Man" from her new album Music Speaks.

After that slight interruption, Majesty Rose, Sam Woolf, MK Nobilette and Dexter Roberts were called to the staging, an odd grouping because considering, all these people did well enough on Wednesday, with MK landing among the best of the worst. And with her smoky take on Allen Stone's "Satisfaction," she found herself in the bottom three.

Another musical interruption came via Jake Bugg, whom Keith Urban totally fangirled over leading up to his performance. He performed his new song "Me And You" as the Idol contestants (looking at you, Alex Preston) peered on with massive amounts of jealousy.

Finally, the final five Idol contestants (Caleb Johnson, Jessica Meuse, C.J. Harris, Kristen O'Connor and Emily Piriz) were called to the stage, and it was cut straight to the chase that Kristen was in the bottom three following her (fittingly titled) flat performance of Kelly Clarkson's "Beautiful Disaster."

Thus, she was sent packing, but not before "singing for the save" with her OK take on "Turning Tables," but it wasn't enough. Jennifer Lopez was all teary about it, but let's be real, she was never in it to win it.

Next Wednesday, it's March! And Idol returns with the theme of "Home."

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American Idol, Jake Bugg
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