'Idol' Shocker! Judges Use Their Save For...

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FOX

With seven worthy competitors left in the game, it was anyone's guess as to who would be sent packing Thursday night on American Idol, but no one could have predicted tonight's shocking turn of events. If you don't want to know what happened, read no further!

Word of tonight's rumored surprise elimination spread quickly on the internet as well as the Idol stage, with Randy Jackson musing to host Ryan Seacrest that he was starting to feel a bit anxious about the results this week.

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First up, Hollie Cavanagh and Jessica Sanchez are chosen to take opposite sides of the stage, with Phillip Phillips sent to Hollie's corner and Elise Testone taking the stage next to Jessica.

Joshua Ledet is then selected to join Elise and Jessica's corner while Skylar Laine is left to anxiously await her fate as the odd woman out. The country singer ultimately learns that she has been given a safe pass for the night, but in an unexpected twist, Elise, Jessica and Joshua are revealed to be the lowest vote-getters this week. The news not only shocks the pardoned group onstage; all three judges are left visibly dumbfounded by Seacrest's announcement.

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"Eleven seasons of doing this show, I've never seen this happen," said a stunned Randy Jackson. "This is a ridiculous bottom three America, I've never said this. They got it wrong tonight. They got it so wrong."

Before Ryan could name who would be sent home, Steven declared that they would use their save this week regardless of the announcement. "We're going to use our card tonight," he said. "Especially with an outcome like this."

To what can be assumed as a stunned silence, Jessica Sanchez was revealed to be the contestant with the least amount of votes this week.

After a comforting hug from Elise, Jessica jumps into her redemption song, Deborah Cox's Nobody's Supposed To Be Here. Sanchez scarcely gets a line out before the judges hop on stage to halt her performance and use their one save of the season on the 16-year-old.

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"Are you kidding me?" said Randy incredulously. "We are saving Jessica without any doubt. This is one of the best singers in America, ever."

Sanchez took the incredible news with shock on her face and tears in her eyes, thanking the judges before returning to the stage to finish her song.

Tune in next week to see the final seven compete once more when American Idol returns Wednesday on FOX.