Curtis Finch Jr., first Top 10 contestant, eliminated from 'Idol'

LOS ANGELES, March 15 (UPI) -- Curtis Finch Jr. was the first Top 10 contender eliminated from "American Idol" in Season 12.

Nicki Minaj and fellow judges Randy Jackson, Keith Urban and Mariah Carey were unable to agree unanimously to use the "judges' save" option to keep Finch on the singing competition show Thursday night.

"I think we really needed an extra minute to discuss it. I don't feel like there was a real discussion about it," Minaj said. "I know it's a live show, but..."

Minaj also briefly left the stage in protest but returned a short time later.

The last song Finch performed on the show was a crowd-pleasing version of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly."