When Aussie " American Idol [ tickets ]" contestant Michael Johns was eliminated from the talent competition, Brooke White, the singing nanny, knew her days were numbered.

"Well, I've been packed for two weeks," White said during a Thursday (5/1) press teleconference. "There's always a chance you could go home, but in these last couple weeks, it starts becoming more real. The contestants are so strong, and you just never know. Ever since Michael Johns went home, I think there was always this question in my mind of, 'How long do I get?' It could be any week, so you give your best performance, and then it's out of your hands."

As for her best performance, the Arizonan calls it her rendition of The Beatles' "Let It Be." But even though she didn't make it all the way to the "American Idol" crowning, she's pleased with where she landed.

"I tried to set goals," she said. "Once I got to the top 24, to the top 12, and once I got to the top 12, it was top 10, and once I hit the top 10, it was top 5. You just have to take it in increments because you can overwhelm yourself, and the expectations can sometimes bring a lot of disappointment. Every time I was up on stage, I threw my heart into it, but I was open to whatever may be, because you only have so much control in this situation."