" American Idol [ tickets ]" cast-off Jorge Nunez of Puerto Rico believes good things are in his future, judging from a good luck text message he received from Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez via host Ryan Seacrest.

"I haven't heard anything else from them, but I don't know. I'm pretty sure that that was just a sign that things are going to be great for me," said Nunez during a Thursday, March 12, conference call.

Nunez, who last performed The Jackson 5's "Never Can Say Goodbye," was eliminated along with fellow contestant Jasmine Murray on Wednesday's (3/11), episode. He said it didn't disturb him that the judges decided not to save him from elimination, an option newly presented on this year's "American Idol."

"I was not hurt because I believe that a person shouldn't have any excuse, and when something happens, it's because it's meant to be so," said Nunez, who added he is going to pursue a law degree and a music career. "I just took the hit like a man, and you know what? Things are going to be great for me, because this is just the start of something much bigger."

Next week, the contestants are performing country songs, and Nunez said he had chosen to perform either "I Know You Won't" by Carrie Underwood or "Anyway" by Martina McBride.

"They're kind of a country ballad, which is cool and I can actually get used to that," he said.

Murray, during a separate March 12 teleconference call, said that she, too, plans on continuing to sing, per the judges' advice.

"They were just encouraging me to keep going and keep singing, which I'm so glad they did," said Murray, whose immediate plans include finishing high school. "They're so nice and I'm definitely going to keep singing and keep trying to pursue my dreams."

Murray, who next planned on performing a song by either Underwood or LeAnn Rimes, explained that being on stage was the most rewarding part of being on "American Idol."

"That's the most important thing anyway," Murray said. "That's what this competition is all about, is singing and getting up there and showing everyone what you can do. That has been so rewarding to me, because I felt like I've been able to really do that, and I'm so happy that I have."