American Idol said goodbye to Avalon Young when they revealed their Top 6.

American Idol said goodbye to Avalon Young when they revealed their Top 6.

The “American Idol” door closed Thursday night on Avalon Young and on San Diego’s chances of ever having a homegrown winner of what was for many seasons the country’s highest-rated television show.

Young, 21, from the San Diego suburb of Tierrasanta and a Serra High graduate, was eliminated as two contestants were cut and the number of finalists for the show’s 15th and final season dwindled to six. Also cut was Lee Jean. The contestants moving on to next week’s elimination round are MacKenzie Bourg, Trent Harmon, Tristan McIntosh, Dalton Rapattoni, La’Porsha Renae and Sonika Vaid.

Young, who last week made it from the Top 10 to the Top 8 on “Idol,” performed Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)” as her solo vocal feature Thursday. She also teamed up with Vaid to do a duet of San Diego singer-songwriter Andra Day’s “Rise Up.” Alas, Young was not able to rise beyond the Top 8.

Earlier this month, Young became only the fifth San Diegan to crack the Top 10 barrier in the show’s history. But she acknowledged that, while winning was her ultimate goal, just being in the Top 10 was a big plus in her career.

Young said a week ago: “Getting to the Top 10 was a goal. No matter what happens, I am just hoping that I have done enough to have caught the attention of someone and they notice me.”

Approximately 70,000 wannabe musical superstars tried out at various locations around the country last summer.

“Idol” continues next Thursday on Fox TV with another round of eliminations. The winner will be crowned on April 7.

Other San Diegans who have finished in the Top 10 include A.J. Gil (eighth in Season 1), Carly Smithson (sixth in Season 7), Adam Lambert (second in Season 8) and Jessica Sanchez (second in Season 11).

Young was also the last Californian left in the competition.

 

That's how you rise to the occasion, Avalon Young and Sonika Vaid!

Posted by American Idol on Thursday, March 10, 2016

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