"Idol" hopeful with Marist ties gone

So Katie Stevens, the "American Idol" finalist with ties to Marist College, just got voted off the show.

Still, that doesn't mean the path to stardom is over for the 17-year-old from Connnecticut. Just by reaching the show's top 10, she's guaranteed a spot on the annual "American Idols LIVE!" tour, in which the top 10 play arenas across the country. Not only that, but many "Idol" also-rans have done on to successful careers without winning the title — Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry and Clay Aiken, among others. (Don't forget last year's runner-up, Adam Lambert, who's coming to town in two months.) Needless to say, Katie's got more career options than most high school seniors her age.

As Ryan Seacrest hugged Katie just now, he told her, "Your parents should be proud," and they showed a vignette that included her mom, a Marist grad — her brother is a current Marist sophomore — as well as her dad and grandmother.

No doubt people around the Marist community are proud of the "Idol" connection.