North Carolina residents hoping for the next Scotty McCreery, Fantasia Barrino or Clay Aiken on this season of "American Idol" are likely disappointed with the show's Top 20 males and Top 20 females.

Two Tar Heel residents were sent packing before the final cut to the Top 40, which was shown Thursday night.

Particularly surprising was the elimination of Kez Ban, right, a 27-year-old street musician and fire performer from Durham. Kez Ban had received a lot of airtime earlier this season because she was like no one else — a quirky troubadour wearing boots wrapped in crime-scene tape. But her unique voice blew the judges away.

Missing a Tar Heel presence on this season of "American Idol" now that all our North Carolinians have been eliminated?

At least you'll get to hear last year's "Idol" winner, Garner High School senior Scotty McCreery, left, when each of the remaining 13 finalists is ejected.

"Idol" producers announced today that Scotty has recorded a new version of Tim McGraw's hit "Please Remember Me," which will be played over farewell video montages when contestants are voted out. The final 13 perform live tonight, with the contestant receiving the fewest viewer votes being sent home on Thursday night's live show.

"It's always a sad time whenever this song is played, but it's definitely a really big part of the show," says Scotty, 18.

His version of the song also will be available as a single on iTunes starting Thursday.

As "American Idol" inches closer to naming its Top 13 on Thursday, North Carolina's hopes for the next Scotty McCreery are down to just one -- country singer Chelsea Sorrell, right, of Stokesdale, just north of Greensboro.

Chelsea, 23, who also tried out for the popular singing competition last season but didn't make the voting rounds, will perform tonight, along with 11 other women hoping to make the finals. Based on viewer votes, the top 5 men and top 5 women will advance to the Top 13, along with one wildcard pick each from judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Wacky Old Uncle Steven Tyler.

Fayetteville residents had hoped David Leathers Jr. -- the baby-faced singer who had received lots of screen time earlier this season -- would make the cut as a surprise on Tuesday night's show. Producers had listed David as one of four previously ejected male singers who would be invited back.

"American Idol" finally -- FINALLY -- will winnow down to its 24 finalists this week, following nearly two months of sob stories, bad auditions and highly manufactured drama. (OMG, that girl just fell off the stage!!! Is she dead??? Um, no. Just dehydrated. Please move on.)

So will another North Carolinian take the title now held by last year's winner, Garner High School senior Scotty McCreery? There are still a few in the mix, though none seems to have received as much early-season airtime as Scotty did last year.

David Leathers Jr. of Fayetteville, right, -- the ladies man with the voice of a young Michael Jackson -- has been featured on the show a few times. And his group performance of "Rockin' Robin" (natch) last week from Las Vegas was pretty good. He's still in the pack.

As "American Idol" opened its 11th season Wednesday, at least three Tar Heel residents won golden tickets to the Hollywood rounds, hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow North Carolinian Scotty McCreery.

Scotty, the Season 10 winner and Garner High School senior, was mentioned right off the bat by the first contestant of the night, David Leathers Jr. of Fayetteville. David, right, a 17-year-old high school senior who looks about 12, said he even competed against Scotty -- and won -- in a local music competition several years ago.

David, who said his friends refer to him as "Mr. Steal Your Girl" because of his way with the ladies, sang a version of The 21st Century's "Remember the Rain." The "Idol" judges loved it, comparing him to a young Michael Jackson and asking for a quick encore of "Never Can Say Goodbye."