Singing a song with “Jesus” in the title couldn’t save early frontrunner Carly Smithson from getting the axe on American Idol last night, trimming the finalists down to the Final Five. The Irish-born singer was eliminated from the Fox singing competition on Wednesday night after her take on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” failed to make a lasting impression on Idol voters.

“I apologize for giving you a compliment last night — kiss of death,” Simon kidded. “But let me tell you, Carly, you can leave with your head held high.”