Chris Daughtry is off American Idol after a shock vote against the favourite.

The competitor – whose country-rock offerings had been tipped for success by many – was shocked after losing a bottom-place play-off with Katharine McPhee.

Judges Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell were also visibly surprised – the former burying her head in her hands and the latter sighing heavily.

"I'm a little bit in shock," Daughtry confessed to Ryan Seacrest. The host concurred, commenting: "Surprising. Surprising."

After hearing Daughtry's version of Elvis' 'Suspicious Minds' earlier in the week, Abdul had congratulated him, declaring: "See ya in the finals."