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'It sucks having a lot of pressure on you, knowing that you have to do this and that,' 'Idol' castoff tells MTV News.By Kelly Marino Joshua Ledet Photo: MTV News "American Idol" finalist Joshua Ledet won't be taking anyone to church during this season's finale next week, leaving bluesy rocker Phillip Phillips and budding diva Jessica Sanchez to compete for the title. The 20-year-old powerhouse received a record number of standing ovations from the panel and has been proclaimed as one of the best contestants in the history of the show. So, coming in third place with the lowest total of the 90 million votes cast this week might come as a shock to some, but Ledet says it was more like a relief. "I just felt relief," the soulful singer told MTV News backstage after the show. "As soon as they said Phillip was going on, I felt a lot of pressure came off of me and I was — I'm not going to say I was happy — but it sucks having a lot of pressure on you, knowing that you have to do this and that and this and that. But when they said I wasn't going on, I was just like, 'OK. Now I can get this song out of the way and then go home and go to sleep or do something fun.' " But make no mistake: It wasn't just about getting his farewell song out of the way. After belting out "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown, the Louisiana native claims he was so overwhelmed, he couldn't fully recall what the judges were saying to him when they came to console him after the show. "I honestly don't remember what they were saying because I think I was so emotional," the preacher's son explained. "I just remember Jennifer [Lopez] telling me never to give up and that my career is going to go higher from here on out and to just keep believing in myself. "Definitely, it gives me a lot of hope seeing Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert and Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry. All of these people that didn't win have had a lot of huge careers, so hopefully that can happen for me." That being said, Ledet's career probably could take off if Jimmy Iovine has anything to do with it. For weeks, the show's music mentor has continuously hinted at signing the singer, even claiming to know the exact type of album he should make — a bit ironic, considering the Interscope head admitted wrongdoing by picking Mary J. Blige's "No More Drama" for the gospel sensation to perform before being voted off. Thankfully, though, Ledet has no regrets. "I don't regret any performance that I've done on the show," Ledet said. "People can say one thing, but it's what I feel in my heart and how I feel about something. So, I don't think I'll let people tell me what to do as a person if it's not true to me in my heart. "I definitely did like the 'No More Drama' song," he added. "It's not a lot of melody, but I don't think it's a competition song. It's just one of those great songs that you can perform at the Grammys or something." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Do you agree with Joshua Ledet's elimination? Sound off below! Related Photos 'American Idol' Season 11 Performances

Singer/actress will join co-star Katharine McPhee on Sony imprint Masterworks.By Jocelyn Vena Megan Hilty Photo: Getty Images "Smash" has been renewed up for a second season, and now one of its stars has landed a record deal. Megan Hilty is joining "Smash" co-star Katharine McPhee on Sony imprint Masterworks, also home to Wilson Phillips and Kristin Chenoweth. The Hollywood Reporter noted that while no release date has been set for Hilty's first album, she is currently working on demos. Hilty told MTV News last month that she would love to pattern her career after now-labelmate Chenoweth, who has transitioned from Broadway sensation to actress and singer. "I look at the people's careers who I want to emulate, like Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Bernadette Peters," Hilty said. "They've all found the key to longevity in this business, and that is diversifying, doing as many things as possible to keep yourself relevant, and so hopefully I'm on the same track as all those amazing women." While these days she's burning up the small screen, Hilty has put in plenty of work on the stage as well, acting in "Wicked" (like Chenoweth) and "9 to 5." Before landing a lead role on "Smash," Hilty appeared on "Desperate Housewives," "Ugly Betty" and the Disney series "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody." "It was something that I never really thought was possible," Hilty said of her starring role on the show, which also includes Anjelica Huston and Debra Messing. "I always thought Broadway's the goal, and then I moved out to L.A. with 'Wicked' and started doing guest-star spots and little recurring things, and I was like, 'Well, this is pretty great, I'm kind of digging this.' " Will you check out Megan Hilty's recording career? Let us know in the comments!

'She was just a classic, iconic American beauty, an American star,' series star Katharine McPhee tells MTV News.By Christina Garibaldi Marilyn Monroe in "Niagara" Photo: 20th Century Fox It seems like no matter where you turn in the pop culture realm lately, you are more than likely to find a reference to blond bombshell Marilyn Monroe. Nearly 50 years after Monroe died at the age of 36, she is still considered one of the most iconic figures in Hollywood history. So it's no surprise that in 2012 she is having another shining moment. She was brought to life by Michelle Williams in her Oscar-nominated role in "My Week With Marilyn," was paid homage in Madonna's video for "Give Me All Your Luvin' " and channeled by Nicki Minaj in her leaked track, fittingly titled "Marilyn Monroe." And each week on the new hit series "Smash," two aspiring stars vie to play her in a role for a Broadway musical. So why is Marilyn's life back in the spotlight? Well, according to the cast of "Smash," she never left. "I think she's always had a moment," Katharine McPhee told MTV News at the "Smash" premiere. "I think people are just intrigued by her life and how she left us too early. She was just a classic, iconic American beauty, an American star. There was a real innocence and sweetness to her, I think." McPhee's co-star Anjelica Huston agrees. "I don't really think she's been out of fashion for very long. She's an iconic figure, maybe the most beautiful, the most enduring blond ever. That's why 50 years later, she remains as iconic as she ever was." It's not just her outer beauty that have left people intrigued by Monroe. Her complicated and sad true-life story — of an orphan named Norma Jean turned sex symbol Marilyn Monroe — has kept people interested as well. "I think she's extremely relatable. Her story is fascinating, and anybody who doesn't know anything about her life really should take a minute and read any of the many biographies that are out there on her," "Smash" co-star Megan Hilty said. "Behind all this glamour, adoration, she was a very lonely person, and I think a lot of people can identify with that part of her. And they also look up to her for the glamorous side. She is so many different things to so many different people that we'll be talking about her for years to come." Why do you think Marilyn Monroe is having a moment? Let us know in the comments.

'The glaring similarity is that we both have musical numbers in the show, but that's about it,' 'Smash' star tells MTV News.By Christina Garibaldi Megan Hilty in "Smash" Photo: NBC It's safe to assume that if you're watching the Super Bowl on Sunday night (February 5), you will see several promos for NBC's newest musical drama, "Smash," which premieres Monday. The show centers on two potential Broadway stars — played by former "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee and newcomer Megan Hilty — who are competing for the lead role in a musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. "Smash" has it all: flashy musical numbers, well-choreographed dance routines and, of course, entertaining drama. Does that all sound a little similar to Fox's hit show "Glee"? Not so fast, says Hilty, who told MTV News the two shows couldn't be more different. "Obviously, the glaring similarity is that we both have musical numbers in the show, but that's about it that we have in common," Hilty said. "We're very different in tone and theme and pretty much everything. We're kind of like a glam soap opera with some splashy musical elements in between." But Hilty admits that if it weren't for "Glee," "Smash" might have never gotten off the ground. "Thank God for 'Glee,' because they really opened doors for our show, specifically, to make it possible for us to do this," Hilty said. "They made it socially acceptable and even cool to love the arts, and hopefully our show will do the same, but they really were the people who started that and busted down those doors, so thank God for that." Hilty's co-star, McPhee, agrees. "We're just actually really grateful that 'Glee' has opened the door," McPhee told MTV News on the Golden Globes red carpet last month. Will you be watching "Smash"? Let us know in the comments!