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May 4, 2007

Phil Stacey off 'Idol'

Transcript Staff Writer

Making it to the Top 6 was their main goal.

And not only did they reach that goal, but they got an extra week to enjoy the outcome.

But now, the journey has ended for "American Idol" contestant Phil Stacey and his family. Or, at least, the journey of singing on the "American Idol" stage and hoping enough people vote to keep him on. He may be off the show, but his family believes the real journey has just begun.

"He's had a lot of contact with producers," Mark McIntosh, Phil's father-in-law said. "He knows there's 50 million people out there who wish to be in his shoes."

After making it through week after week of the grueling, and sometimes cruel, "American Idol" competition, Phil Stacey got kicked off Wednesday night after singing Bon Jovi's' "Blaze of Glory" on Tuesday. He made it into the Top 6 two weeks ago, and last week he was able to get an extra week on Idol, after singing Garth Brook's "The Change" due to the charity event "Idol Gives Back." The show didn't want to ruin all the good taking place by kicking someone off then.

McIntosh said he feels this technically makes Phil a possible Top 5 contestant since the producers would not reveal if Chris Richardson, who also got voted off on Wednesday, would have gone home before Phil or not last week.

The family would have loved to see him make it from the Top 6 to the Top 4, but under the circumstances they couldn't have asked for anything better.

"We honestly feel we reached our main goal, so we're happy," McIntosh said. During the course of the competition, he and his wife requested the help of millions around Oklahoma and other states to "power vote" each week for Phil. In the e-mails they sent out, they stated their goal was at least the Top 6 since that group is generally guaranteed a recording contract. With the help of those people who pledged to call in the entire two hours and vote for him, Phil was able to make it far in the competition.

"(Phil) was just very thankful cause he went a lot farther than a lot of people thought he would," McIntosh said. "I just want to extend a big thank you to everyone in Norman, and everyone in Oklahoma (for voting)."

At the moment, Phil is touring the nation doing one interview after the other with radio and TV stations. Last night he appeared on "Jay Leno" and on Monday he'll be on "Ellen." After about a week in New York, Phil will return to the naval base in Jacksonville, Fla., to report back to duty, McIntosh said. The family is grateful for the support the Navy has offered Phil, through their votes and for giving him the time off to compete on "Idol" and later to go on tour with the Top 10 this summer. McIntosh said Phil will finish out his term in the Navy while he and his family focus on getting his career launched.

"We're very proud of him and we're just excited for his future," McIntosh said. "What's got me so thrilled was that he hit it out of the ball park these last three weeks."

While he's heard Phil sing on many occasions, these last three weeks have probably been the best he's ever heard. "He's really got Hollywood's attention," he said.

"He wanted to go out on a strong note and he really did go out on a 'Blaze of Glory.'"

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