Well, at least she got a compliment from Simon.

Carly Smithson is the latest contestant cut from American Idol.   Her elimination just happens to follow one of her best performances in recent weeks. Her harshest critic Simon Cowell had even commented that her rendition of "Jesus Christ Superstar" was one of his favorite performances on Tuesday night.

"I apologize for giving you a compliment last night -- the kiss of death," Simon joked after Carly's elimination.

"I'm very proud of myself. I'm very happy," Carly said after she got the bad news.

Syesha Mercardo, who also gave one of the strongest performances this week, landed in the bottom two with Carly. But Brooke White (who started her song over after she "lost the lyric" on Tuesday) and Jason Castro (whose performance was described by Randy Jackson as a "train wreck") were safe this week thanks to viewer votes.