The fifth-place finish didn't come as a surprise to the country crooner, who used her final moments on the show to comfort her friend and competitor Hollie Cavanagh as they stood on stage in the Bottom Two. "She was in the same place twice before and she thought it was her time to go home, and I just looked at her and said, 'I think you're going to be surprised,'" Laine said.
Laine appeared to be gaining momentum in the competition, with the judges praising her Wednesday night performances. "I went out on a good note," she said. "I don't have any regrets from this whole experience. I've shown what kind of artist I want to be and what kind of album I want to make in the future, if I get the chance."
It was fitting that Skylar's departure came on the night former Idol winner Carrie Underwood returned to perform, and the country superstar is already voicing her support. "I heard Carrie said to someone that the country community's already welcomed me with open arms, and that means a lot to me," said Laine. "Meeting her was amazing, and I'm just ready to go into country music, y'all!"
