This week’s Idol results show had thrills and spills, and guest performances from both past contestants and a current judge. What may have seemed, after last night’s performance show, to be a clear-cut elimination did not end up as expected.

The top 8 was narrowed down to 7, after a tough week of challenging Motown performances. Last night’s disastrous boys group performance seemed to make it clear that recently struggling contestant Lazaro Arbos would be going home, but America’s votes told a different story. After several weeks in the bottom two, the contestant sent home this week was Devin Velez.

Even though Devin’s smooth vocals earned high praise from the judges, America just couldn’t seem to get behind his performance, and he’s found himself in the bottom two for the last three weeks. And after tonight’s voting results were revealed, even his beautiful rendition of Andrea Bocelli’s “Somos Novios (It’s Impossible)” was not enough to earn him the judges’ save, which they are obviously holding onto for one of the girls in a future elimination.

In spite of the bad news, Devin gave a beautiful performance, and seemed happy just to be a part of the Idol experience. He took a moment to thank the judges and the fans for their support, and smiled through his goodbyes. He demonstrated true class in a week that featured some tense moments between some of the contestants.

Finalist Kree Harrison had a night full of ups and downs. Motown legend Aretha Franklin recorded a special message praising Kree’s performance of Aretha’s own “Don’t Play That Song.” Aretha predicted that Kree wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon, which proved to be true when Ryan revealed Kree as the first contestant safe from elimination. Moments later, she was so excited to find out her friend and fellow finalist Janelle Arthur was safe that she fell off of her towering heels.

The top 8 kicked off the show with a performance of Detroit native Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll.” Unsurprisingly, Lazaro Arbos was the only finalist to not get a solo in the group number, after he completely flubbed his group performance last night with fellow male contestants Devin and Burnell.

Idol managed to cram three guest performances into the middle of the show, again raising the question of why we are forced to sit through a one-hour results show when the news we’re waiting for is crammed into the last two minutes. This week saw the return of season 11 finalist Colton Dixon, One Republic featuring season 5 runner-up and Smash star Katharine McPhee, and this season’s judge Keith Urban.

Colton performed his single “Love Has Come For Me,” off of his debut album, A Messenger. In a video package before the performance, we learned that A Messenger debuted at number one on Billboard’s Christian album chart, and he is now touring with Grammy-winning Christian rock band Third Day.

Perhaps considering joining One Republic after Smash‘s inevitable cancellation, Katharine McPhee phoned in what seemed to be an oddly unnecessary accompanying performance with One Republic on the band’s newest single “If I Lose Myself.”

Judge Keith Urban showed that there’s a reason he’s sitting at the judge’s table, with a great performance of his single “Long Hot Summer.” His fellow judges gave him a favorable review after the performance, with Mariah even holding up a sign proclaiming she was Keith’s number one fan.

Next Wednesday the top 7 will be bringing some classic rock to the Idol stage.

Did you agree with Devin’s elimination? Should the judges have used their save?