Hannah Nicolaisen was a sparkling presence on Monday’s episode of “American Idol,”covering “Royals” by Lorde as a member of the top 20 on the ABC reality series.

But her performance wasn’t enough to keep the Alabama resident in the competition during Season 21. Nicolaisen was eliminated on the live show along with seven other singers. Although she didn’t make the top 12, her exit was a graceful one, and Nicolaisen posted a heartfelt message on social media after Monday’s episode concluded.

“THANK YOU! I wouldn’t change a single thing!!!! I’m so in love with these people, this whole journey, and with all of you who supported me,” Nicolaisen said via Instagram. “Thank you American Idol for leading me down this path, thank you to my family and friends for the courage. I have grown so much, and I am SO excited to watch all my friends continue in this show. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

Nicolaisen had a good run on “American Idol,” earning kudos from all three celebrity judges — Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie — and releasing an original song, “Through the Motions,” as a single. TV viewers saw her earn a golden ticket during auditions, sail through Hollywood week and impress the judges during the “Showstoppers” round.

Nicolaisen also performed in Hawaii with other contestants at a Disney resort, covering Pink’s “Glitter in the Air” for a standout moment. During her time on “Idol,” she offered renditions of songs made famous by artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Gavin DeGraw to Queen, and upped her public profile considerably.

Her final performance on the show inspired a big compliment from Richie, who said, “Right song, right imagery, your personality was shining through. Forget about anything else; you’re a star.”

Nicolaisen, 24, is a former standout volleyball player at the University of Illinois Springfield, now working on a career as a singer-songwriter in Montgomery. She moved to Alabama last year, according to her Instagram page, and has been performing in Montgomery venues such as The Tipping Point. Nicolaisen also has worked as a technical recruiter for Stratice in Montgomery, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Nicolaisen’s ouster means that Alabama no longer has a presence on “American Idol” this season. Another singer from the state, Johnny Knox, received a golden ticket to Hollywood, after giving the judges homemade sourdough bread during his audition. However, Knox was eliminated during the Hollywood round after testing positive for COVID and performing for the judges via video from his hotel room.

Alabama has a significant history on “American Idol” that includes wins by Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks in 2003 and 2006. The state also has produced two runners-up, Diana DeGarmo (2004) and Bo Bice (2005). More than 20 other contestants from Alabama have been featured during the auditions, Hollywood week and live performances.

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