W. HOLLYWOOD WOMAN OFF 'IDOL'.

Byline: -- Fred Shuster

More "American Idol" dreams were dashed Thursday with the eliminations of four contestants -- including a West Hollywood woman -- on the record-breaking amateur talent contest.

Alaina Alexander, Leslie Hunt, Nicholas Pedro and A.J. Tabaldo were voted off in the balloting, which drew about 32million calls and text messages.

Sixteen hopefuls remain.

Alexander, 24, the West Hollywood singer, was booted after her performance of the Dixie Chicks Grammy-winning anthem "Not Ready To Make Nice" left judges cold in competition this week. Thursday, Alexander was too tearful to get through the song again after she got her eviction notice. But the remaining "Idol" women gathered around for a group hug as a final farewell.

There were few surprises in the round. Tabaldo, 22, was sent home after his rendition of Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" was judged below snuff. Panelist Paula Abdul, though, didn't agree with the decision.

"Truthfully, this is a singing competition, (and) I don't feel tonight reflects this."

The Simone song choice also proved unlucky for Hunt, 24, who also sang it this week and got a one-way ticket back to Chicago for her trouble.

Pedro's interpretation of the standard "Fever" received a cool reception from judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Abdul, who voted to put him out to pasture. "It's about standing out in the crowd," said Cowell, who said the singer, 25, suffered from a shortage of charisma.

Thursday's show featured a performance by "Idol" also-ran Kellie Pickler, who performed a song from her album "Small Town Girl."

Fox's top-rated "American Idol" will run three times next week before returning March13 to a twice-weekly schedule. The winner will be crowned in May.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) ALEXANDER

(2 -- color) HUNT

(3 -- color) PEDRO

(4 -- color) TABALDO