Wheeling native's got a hold on 'Idol' top 11

Haley Reinhart said her main goal this week on “American Idol” was to stay out of the bottom three.

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The Wheeling native was in the bottom three the past two weeks, but sailed through Thursday's elimination and sat grinning from ear to ear on the show's safe couch.

Instead voters chose to send home Casey Abrams, a 20-year-old who grew up in Wilmette. But when Abrams started to “sing for his life,” judge Randy Jackson waved him off and said the judges were going to use their one save of the season.

“This is crazy wrong, we made a decision to keep you on,” judge Steven Tyler said.

After hearing the news, Casey looked like he was going to throw up. Or pass out. Instead he grabbed his forehead and let a few words slip that had to be censored. He went on to hug his parents and shake hands with all the judges

“I thought they wouldn't use the save because there are 11 people,” Abrams said.

Meanwhile a teary Haley sat on the coach behind him. By making the top 11, she secured a spot on the American Idol tour this summer.

The remaining contestants will sing again next Wednesday before another two contestants are voted off on Thursday.

But no matter who is eliminated next week, host Ryan Seacrest announced Thursday that the top 11 will all go on tour.

With her new flat-ironed hair, Haley teetered into the judges' hearts on Wednesday with her take on Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' “You Really Got a Hold on Me.”

Idol fans everywhere lifted their texting fingers for a moment when an unsteady Haley started the song on the Idol staircase in 6-inch heels.

But once she made it down without falling, the singing part came easy.

And next week, for the first time Haley won't be singing from position of someone who's lucky to still be around.

It should be interesting to see how a little confidence mixes in with that throaty growl the judges seem to love so much.