Fritz Hager did not sugar coat his feelings in his goodbye message after viewers eliminated him from American Idol on Sunday (Read our Recap). After the Top 5 performed two songs–a Carrie Underwood pick and a finale-worthy closter, Fritz and Nicolina Bozzo left the competition after receiving the fewest votes from America.
Leaving the competition one week before the Grand Finale is especially difficult, especially when leaving good friends behind. While Fritz left the show, his best friend Leah Marlene moved on to the finale, along with Noah Thompson and HunterGirl.
“I’ll be honest, ending it here is tough,” Fritz wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of himself with Leah. “But I am so incredibly grateful. For the friends. For the memories. For the music. This is not the end, it’s just page 1.”
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A touching goodbye song
Also on Instagram, Fritz posted a touching goodbye song, without comment. The lyrics go. “I’m leaving. I hate to say goodbye, but I’ll see you, when the timings right. But I’m leaving. It feels like it’s too soon. But I can’t wait to come on home to you. One more song to sing. One more tear to stream down my face. I’ll give my all to you. Just you wait. Take my heart. Take my soul. Leave me bare to leave me whole.”
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“Being split up this close to the end is really hard”
Although Leah is still in the competition, she’s heartsick to say goodbye to her friend. She posted a sweet Instagram photo of the two hugging. “Lots of tears. Lots of shock. Lots of love. Fritz, you are a gem of a human. There are no words to articulate just how proud of you I am. Being split up so close to the end is really hard, but I suppose it is the nature of the show we signed up for.”
She continued, “o witness the beautiful personal transformation and growth you have undergone from the moment I met you to now has been the greatest honor, and I am simply amazed that I get to be your friend. I cannot wait for all the music we have yet to make together. Thank you @americanidol for giving me this brotha from another motha. Everybody take a minute and show @fritzhagermusic and @nicolinabozzo all the love in the world. This is only the beginning of a long beautiful career for the both of you. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH.”
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“I just told her I was proud of her”
After the show, reporters asked Fritz the inevitable question. Are he and Leah dating?
“Oh, no. No. She’s like my sister. She’s great,” Fritz told reporters. “We’ve been in this competition together, working together since Hollywood Week, and to get this far with her is special.”
Fritz tearfully shared what he told Leah on stage as they shared a hug. “I just told her I was proud of her,” adding, “I told her I love her [and] that I’m proud of her. I am so excited to see what’s next from her. I really believe in her. I think she could go all the way. Anyone that voted for me this week needs to vote for Leah.”
