Colton Dixon was the front runner for season 11 on American Idol, but was shockingly voted off the day after he talked back about the judges’ criticism. Looking back, the 20-year-old rocker has regrets about how he acted.

“I hated the way I handled that,” he told HollywoodLife.com exclusively April 23. “I’m not making excuses, but a big part of that was TV editing. I came backstage and I said, ‘No disrespect to the judges and not trying to sound cocky at all, but I don’t really care that they didn’t like it.’ I did what I set out to do with this song and I made it into a Colton song. I enjoyed it very much.”

Even though he believed in his performance, Colton felt disappointed in himself for disagreeing with the judges in front of America.

“I was a little frustrated and curious why they weren’t digging it,” he said, explaining, “But again, I handled it the right way, which is why I apologized when I was on stage Thursday night because that was a bad representation of who I am.”

Do you think Colton’s less than positive attitude was what got him booted early from the show? Sound off below!

Reporting by Nicole Karlis

More Colton News:

1. Are Colton Dixon & Lady Gaga Feuding?
2. ‘American Idol’ Rigged? Colton Dixon Should NOT Have Been Eliminated
3. ‘American Idol’ Results: Colton Dixon Lands In Bottom

We may not get to see Colton Dixon live on American Idol every week, but don’t bother shedding any tears for the Tennessee native — because he’s totally happy! Now that he’s off the show, he finally has time to focus on his true passion. “I get to start writing,” he said April 23 on Live! With Kelly. ”I miss the Idol family like crazy, but I get to do what I love: write and record.”

Along with his brief interview, Colton also delivered a haunting performance, once again causing us to wonder how the heck he was ever eliminated in the first place. And it sounds like Kelly Ripa can’t make heads or tails of the cut either!

“America made a mistake,” she told him.

We agree!

Click here to view the embedded video.

More Colton News:

1. Are Colton Dixon & Lady Gaga Feuding?
2. ‘American Idol’ Rigged? Colton Dixon Should NOT Have Been Eliminated
3. ‘American Idol’ Results: Colton Dixon Lands In Bottom

Fans were shocked when frontrunner Colton Dixon got voted off American Idol on April 19. Though the 20-year-old has no regrets about trying out for the reality show, he does regret choosing to sing a Lady Gaga song!

“I think the biggest risk was ‘Bad Romance,’ and I think it was a bad risk to take because I didn’t really think it through,” Colton told E! “I’ve taken pride in knowing who I am and really taking a stance in my faith. I think in choosing ‘Bad Romance’ I turned off a lot of those voters, which are my core voters.”

Within minutes, Gaga’s band of Little Monsters took to twitter to express their displeasure over Colton’s statements. To clear up any confusion, the singer tweeted, “@emmymason @ladygaga @usatoday wasn’t saying I’m better. I’m saying I should have chosen a song to better represent me as an artist,” followed by, “@emmymason @ladygaga @usatoday I just think that for my drive and message, I’d rather do a more positive song. Nothing against her;-)”

Do YOU think Colton is blaming Lady Gaga for his elimination?

– Jennifer Kamm

More Colton Dixon News:

1. Colton Dixon Reveals: What I’ll Do Next After ‘Idol’
2. Colton Dixon’s Shocking ‘American Idol’ Elimination — Pics
3. Colton Dixon Speaks Out After American Idol: My Biggest Regret

Colton Dixon, 20, blew us away with his talent on Idol. We’re sure that his shocking dismissal from the show is only the beginning of his music career!

The Tennessee native, whose little sister Schyler Dixon, 15, pushed him to audition with her for Idol‘s eleventh season, says he has high hopes for her, too! His advice?

“She better try out next year and make it further than I did,” Colton tells us. “I want that free car! No, I’m just kidding, she needs to do it again because she is that talented. I don’t know if she will, she has gone back and forth on it. After she got cut she said I’m definitely not doing American Idol again, as we all say, but now she’s leaning towards it more. She definitely has the talent and could blow the competition out of the water and I’m not just saying that because I am bias, I know she could do great things on the show.”

As for his immediate post-Idol plans, Colton says he’s excited to enjoy the simple things in life.

“I have a week of press, but after that I am so stoked to sleep between my own sheets,” Colton tells us. “So excited for that. Holy cow, I can’t wait.”

What do YOU think, HollywoodLifers? Do you think Colton should have stayed?

– Reporting by Russ Weakland

More American Idol

1. ‘American Idol’ Results: Colton Dixon Lands In Bottom
2. ‘American Idol’ Rigged? Colton Dixon Should NOT Have Been Eliminated
3. ‘American Idol’ Finalist Elise Testone: I Wasn’t Rude To J. Lo

Colton Dixon‘s elimination completely took us by surprise — we thought he was going to make it all the way! HollywoodLife.com caught up with him after the show to get his take on the judges’ decision and what he thinks could have saved him.

HollywoodLife.com – How totally floored are you by the results?

Colton Dixon – Personally I thought I was going to be in the bottom 3 tonight, so I wasn’t surprised by that. Especially standing next to Philip and Jessica I knew I was going. But I thought I had another week, if not a couple more in me, but someone good has to go home. It was just me this week. And for the people voting at home you have to vote as many times you can so your favorite stays in. I think song choice killed me last night, so the remaining contestants; you have to make sure you on you’re A-game and your song choice is so key in this competition and make sure you are on all the time.

HL – Do you regret anything?

CD – I regret my 1st song last night. My take on it was me and I didn’t veer stylistically from me at all but I think I could’ve chosen a better song that I could connect with that had a better message for me and for my audience. I think that’s what turned a lot of people off last night.

HL – With your final song you kind of fell to your knees and sat there for a minute before you started, what were you thinking?

CD – It’s funny, I have been trying too hard to get a standing ovation from the judges that I didn’t need, I didn’t need it for confidence or anything like that, and during that song I wasn’t singing for them or my family or anyone in the audience or anyone at home, that song was between me and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We had a cool moment on stage for sure, but I wanted to end it the way I started it and told myself I would do this competition and I’m glad I got the opportunity.

Do you think they wasted the save?

CD – No, not at all, Jessica deserve to be saved hands down. I’m very glad they saved her.

HL – You whispered something to Hollie when they said she was safe, what did you say?

CD – I said congratulations baby, you deserve it, she’s such a sweetheart and during commercial breaks she looked at me and was like ‘okay Colton just by comparison of fan mail we know you are going through.’ I said you killed it last night and I wasn’t so hot last night, so if last night reflects any on right now which it should, you have a couple more weeks left in you. She was crying but I think some of those were tears of relief. We love each other very much.

That must’ve been weird for you, you haven’t been in the bottom 3 before and then you get the news you going home?

CD – After feeling what the bottom 3 felt like, I’m glad I’ll never have to go through that again. It’s weird and all of this is so overwhelming, it’s weird that the other contestants aren’t with me in this room right now doing press. But again things can only get better from here and I can do my own music and America is going to be able to connect with me through that. I am excited.

HL – You are from the same town as Macy from Teen Mom, do you know her?

CD – That is so weird. She goes to MTSU doesn’t she? I think when I went a lot of people were freaking out that she went to school there to. I don’t watch the show, and I’ve never met her. But that’s funny.

HL – Did you think Ryan was fooling you tonight’s as throughout the competition he has been out of control with his delivery?

CD – He is [laughs] he likes to tease. But no, tonight he gave it to me straight. Ryan is so sincere and I love that about him, he really does care about the contestants and afterwards he pulled me aside and said dude you deserve to be here and that it was a privilege working with you. I told him he needed to find a new victim to pick on every week. But he wouldn’t have picked on me tonight, just because I don’t know what I would have done. I might have choked him. Not really (laughs).

HL – Were you glad to finally get your standing ovation?

CD – Honestly, it was nice and I’m glad it happened but again I wasn’t singing for them or anyone in the audience it was a connection between me and God. It was a cool moment.

HL – Did you get a chance speak to the judges afterwards?

CD – I did, man, we can’t ask for better judges, they really care about you. It’s cool because they are so influential. Randy has worked with a couple of Christian acts and said whatever you do let me know and we will make it happen. I loved that. Jennifer was a sweetheart, she didn’t want to leave the stage, which was so cute and I loved it–that was awesome. Steven Tyler honestly, I couldn’t hear what he said in my ear and I hate that. He mumbled something and I missed it. But I love them all so much and they are so supportive of everything that I’ve done and I really appreciate your opportunity and them seeing something more in me this year than last year and to send me on to the top 24.

What do YOU think, HollywoodLifers? Do you think Colton should have stayed?

– Reporting by Russ Weakland

More American Idol

1. ‘American Idol’ Results: Colton Dixon Lands In Bottom
2. ‘American Idol’ Rigged? Colton Dixon Should NOT Have Been Eliminated
3. ‘American Idol’ Finalist Elise Testone: I Wasn’t Rude To J. Lo

Maybe all of this was in part my fault. After Elise Testone talked back to Jennifer Lopez on American Idol April 18, I was nervous she was going to irk America, so I spent my time saving her from elimination — totally assuming Colton Dixon would come out on top.

The 20-year-old Tennessee native had a strong night. Albeit, it wasn’t his best, but there were others (I’m lookin’ to you, Hollie Cavanagh) who struggled far more.

Colton has been consistently strong all season. He’s taken risks, played it safe when it counts and rocked his unique style and awesome hair.

Plus, he’s by far the strongest interviewer out of the top contestants this season. Every week I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with the singers on Tuesdays during their rehearsals. No one has had more poise, charisma or grace than Colton. He’s well-spoken, polite, introspective and kind — all the characteristics you’d want in a superstar.

I have no doubt Colton will go far with his music career, but I’m still bummed he wasn’t given more opportunity on Idol. At the end of the day, I don’t think this show is rigged, but I do question America’s voting abilities. What the heck happened this week?

What was your response to the elimination tonight? Without Colton in the race, who do you think will win?

Click here to view the embedded video.

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We are still sitting here in shock after tonight’s American Idol elimination. Even the bottom three, Colton Dixon, Hollie Cavanagh and Elise Testone, weren’t who we would have guessed to be facing elimination.

That said, after Elise talked back to Jennifer Lopez last night, we had our concerns about her going home. However, when Ryan Seacrest announced it was actually Colton who was getting the boot, our mouths dropped to the floor. He was supposed to win!

Can you believe Colton was eliminated? Sound off below!