After Tuesday night’s performances, American Idol went home with each of the three remaining contestants, reliving some of their finest moments. Welcomed back to their hometowns, the excitement was monumental, as they each saw just how many were inspired by the successes they were enjoying.

Getting back to their hometowns was fun, but there was still a heavy shadow lingering over Casey James, Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze. The journey for one contestant was about to come to an end, and that knowledge weighed down all three of them throughout the hour.

With only three contestants left, there was no dramatic build-up with Ryan Seacrest, no commercial breaks between announcements where we were left to wonder who it would be.

The first safe contestant was Lee Dewyze, who walked to the right-hand side of the stage with a boost of even greater confidence. Bowersox and James stood side by side, awaiting their fate, which fell quickly. Crystal Bowersox would be going on to the finale with Lee Dewyze, and Casey James was finally going home.

It was a bittersweet goodbye for James, who was thrilled to have made it as far as he did in the competition. As one of the final three, you can bet that despite not becoming the next American Idol, the doors of opportunity are open to the golden guitarist, and we will be seeing more of him in the future.