Sarina-Joi Crowe may have been the first Top 12 contestant voted off "American Idol" this season, but she went out on a high note.
Crowe was thrilled to hear host Ryan Seacrest say her name, even though he was warning her that she was in danger of being eliminated. She also loved that Jennifer Lopez expressed regret for having to let her go and the crowd chanting for the judges to save her.
Read more with the Crowe in an exclusive interview with Headlines & Global News below.
HNGN: You held it together really well despite the bad news.
Sarina: Honestly it's really weird, when you know you're going home you just know. You have one or two moments to sit around during the day, think about it, accept it and have those last moments on "American Idol," be the best moments.
I knew my performance wasn't the best on Wednesday so I kind of had a feeling that this might be the end of the road for me, and I was OK with it. So I got the emotion out and thought, "Why should I be sad about this? Sure this is where my journey ends but is just the beginning of so many more things." I was just happy to be able to sing one last time.
HNGN: What were you and Nick Fradiani saying to each other before they made the announcement?
Sarina: Nick gave me a hug and said, "Either way I love you so much." We are super close, I called him an old man and he called me an old woman. So it was really suck-y for it to be Nick and I because we do love each other so much. When they called his name he turned and gave me a look of "what?" But he's incredible and there are no hard feelings at all.
HNGN: But you went out on such a high note.
Sarina: I was so happy about that, because what better send off than having the crowd chant, "Save, Save, Save." That was awesome, it was like no one wanted me to go and I loved it. What was even cooler was hearing Jennifer Lopez say, "It's going to kill me to say this," but I was happy, I could not have gone home in a better way.
HNGN: What will you take away from this experience and use later in your career?
Sarina: Oh, I learned so much about social media and how important it is and the other thing is how to solidify yourself as an artist. Scott [Borchetta] really helped with all of that.
HNGN: As the first victim of the new electric chairs, how did you feel about seeing them for the first time?
Sarina: I love them (laughs). I thought they were really cool and fun. Even though it was red, it was OK. It really added excitement to the elimination. Having them say your name and then have the chair light up would've been even more terrifying, but honestly I thought it was cool to just hear my name as being in danger of going home. I've been trying to do the show for so long that I was like, "Wow, Ryan Seacrest is saying my name! I'm in danger of being eliminated!" It's weird but it's been a goal of mine to be voted in by America, and I was.
HNGN: Some people at home may not like the new elimination process. For those that might not think it's fair, what would you say to them?
Sarina: It comes with the show, and either way it goes, it could've been an elimination show. It ultimately doesn't really matter, and it's always going to be hard. But at least you get to sing one last time; imagine if you didn't, I just had to go home? It's awesome you get one last moment, and even though I didn't get saved I got to sing one last time for America, who have been watching me for four years! What better way to say thank you for voting me in? Here's "Neon Lights," I'm out.
