Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson have both been axed from American Idol in a double elimination.

Despite winning praise from the judges for his performance of Bon Jovi's 'Blaze Of Glory', Stacey polled the lowest number of votes to become the seventh hopeful to eliminated.

Richardson became the eighth contestant to be axed after his rendition of Bon Jovi's 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' polled the next lowest number of votes.

Four contestants - Melinda Doolittle, LaKisha Jones, Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks - are now competing for this year's American Idol crown.