NJ ‘American Idol’ Star Tearfully Eliminated From Reality Show

NEW JERSEY - It’s the end of the American Idol road for this New Jersey musician.

Cole Hallman, 22, captivated audiences in a viral video for the show’s season 20 auditions earlier this year, bringing along his sister Katie, who has a chromosomal deletion, to sing a rendition of the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”

Now, in the singing competition’s eighth episode “Hollywood Duets Challenge,” the Manasquan native ended his reality TV run with another singer by his side, this time featuring fellow contestant Cadence Baker.

Hallman took to Instagram to share his thoughts on his final performance of Marvin Gaye’s “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”:

“Cry like a baby on national TV ... If you didn’t see tonight's episode, I’m sorry to say I did not make it to the next round of @AmericanIdol,” Hallman said. “Regardless of this outcome, I’m so grateful for this whole experience. I know all of this will just push me to become a better musician, and more importantly a better person. I like to think that everything happens for a reason, and I’m excited to see what’s next for me.”

Hallman, a graduate of Manasquan High School, is a recent college graduate and former fourth grade student teacher who currently works as a surf shop associate, according to a show segment. He's also a former barback at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, where New Jersey music legends such as Bruce Springsteen cut their teeth.

“You have a tremendous amount of style,” American Idol judge Luke Bryan said of Hallman’s performance. “Watching you sing with your sister in auditions –”

“It was one of those great moments, man,” added judge Lionel Richie.

"I could hear it in your voice, you definitely have pushed it to the limits," judge Katy Perry said.

“It was a little underwhelming based on some of your last performances,” Bryan said of the duet with Baker. “Cole, you have a tremendous amount of talent to build on. But, for right now, it’s the end of the road.”

You can watch Hallman’s final American Idol performance below: