Before a note was even sung on Tuesday night, "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest revealed which two performers of the Top 3 would compete for the coveted "Idol" crown.
In this season's most shocking elimination, Jax received the lowest number of votes by a less than .4 percent difference from one of her fellow competitors. That left Clark Beckham and Nick Fradiani to duke it out in the finale.
"It was a surprise to me that Jax was voted off. I thought we were going to have a boy and a girl," judge Jennifer Lopez told reporters after the show on Tuesday.
Lopez added, "I thought she was one of the stronger girl contestants in many, many years, so that was a huge surprise. I'm a little disappointed too. I thought she could have actually won the whole thing."
Her fellow judge, Harry Connick Jr., also believed Jax was the one to beat. Connick Jr. actually met the young singer for the first time last night as he does not like to socialize with the "Idol" hopefuls during their run on the show.
"I remember the day I saw Jax audition and I really thought she had a pretty good chance of winning," he said.
Jax's "American Idol" dream may be over, but she looks forward to a bright future starting with the "Idol" tour. In the meantime, she plans to get some much-deserved rest, a bite at Taco Bell and possibly a face tattoo of her trademark "X."
The New Jersey native also hopes to keeping working with the show's mentor, Scott Borchetta.
"Scott's the greatest. I don't even know what kind of artist I would've been at the end of the season without Scott," Jax admits. "He's the bomb, it was such an honor to work with someone like that."
Learn more about Jax's post-"American Idol" plans and her new single, "Force Field" in the interview below.
Can you sing us your single we didn't hear?
Jax: Oh my gosh - I wish! They would yell at me, but now I really don't care as much, so maybe...I'm off the show (laughs).
How are you feeling?
Jax: Kind of relieved really. I will say it's such a bummer because I was so close but I'm happy. I'm so happy to be here and I get to go on tour. My single is released. This show has changed my life forever and I'm so blessed to be here.
Throughout the day, did you think you were going to go ahead to do the finale or you weren't going to make it all the way?
Jax: It's funny. The whole show is about finding the perfect balance between that because you don't want to overshoot in any way. I was hoping for the best. I needed to stay confident to prepare for my songs, just thinking that I was going to sing them. But yeah I'm super-nervous all the time. I had totally human thoughts like, "I'll make it through."
What can you tell us about your single?
Jax: It's a powerhouse single. I'm really proud of it. It's definitely - I love women empowerment. It's called 'Force Field', by the way, and it's kind of just about this force field of you can't mess with me, you can't break me down because of my force field. I'm really hoping that it gets to the chicks out there.
Who is winning American Idol?
Jax: It's so hard to say. Both of those boys are like the most talented boys I've ever met in my entire life.
What are you going to do after the show is over?
Jax: Hopefully I'll take a nap. I'll start there. Get some Taco Bell. I really hope to get into the studio and put out a record as quick as I can because I have so much inspiration happening after this journey. It's crazy how much you go through. It's such an education. I have so much material that I'm ready to put out.
What will you miss most about the show?
Jax: I'll probably miss the coaches behind the scenes. I love those guys. I'll miss a lot of it. This is going to be a huge part of my life. Everything behind the scenes I'll miss, even the hard parts.
You've been a fan of the show for a long time. How do you feel about it ending after next season?
Jax: In one breath, it's sad, but in another you had the coolest run of all time and it was one of the most successful shows on TV. I'm positive the last season will be completely awesome.
How are you processing this new fame?
Jax: It's so weird. I really thought that I'd be super sad but I was kind of relieved that I don't have to worry about getting through the next round. I think that I got so much out of this. I made the best friends I'm ever going to make in my entire life, family. It's music crash course/industry 101 in a matter of weeks. I'm blessed, seriously. That's all I can feel.
Is there a part of you that feels that the way you were sent home - so close - was a little bit cruel?
Jax: Oh gosh. It's a TV show. We have to put that aside but at the end of the day we're all artists here. Obviously it's still dramatic. You have the light up chairs and you have Ryan Seacrest who is always on. It's just awesome. I don't know if he wakes up like this or not but he's awesome. I think it's really cool. 'Idol' always does a really good job making the episodes super interesting. I'm glad to be a part of it.
What is your advice for future contestants?
Jax: I always tell people the biggest thing I've learned on the show would probably be that I learned to live in the grey. Not in the black, not in the white, but in the grey because it's so important to not to dwell on the past or not to dwell on the future because you'll drive yourself completely mad. Be present. That's all I can say.
Out of the Top 10, who would you want to collaborate with?
Jax: Probably all of them in different ways. Quentin, I love Quentin. I love the boys. I love Clark and Nick. I love all the girls. Tyanna, she's the bomb.
Watch tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox to see if Nick or Clark walks away as the next "American Idol."
