THE latest series of “American Idol” just got a lot more interesting.

The 12 finalists left standing for the fifth season were announced last night after four more pop-star wannabes were voted off the popular Fox talent show.

Heading home heartbroken were the quartet of Kinnik Sky, Will Makar, Gideon McKinney and Ayla Brown, who wept when told the bad news.

“It’s OK to cry because it shows that you care,” host Ryan Seacrest told her.

Sky and Makar were the first to get the bad news – followed by Brown and McKinney, who appeared shocked.

“I am surprised,” McKinney said. “Pray for me and thank you, this is not the end . . . just the beginning.”

Sky, 28, received the lowest number of votes for her rendition of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You.”

“I think you just booked your plane ticket home,” judge Simon Cowell said after her performance.

Among the potential winners are Kevin Covais, 16, who hails from Levittown, L.I., and Paris Bennett, 17, whose grandmother, Ann Nesby, is one of the most acclaimed gospel singers of all time.

Contestants have been booted in groups of at least four. Starting next Wednesday, only one singer will be sent home each week until the viewers get a chance to crown the new “American Idol” during the May finale.

The “Idol” contestants got a little taste of what it might be like to make it into the limelight when one of last year’s favorites, “rocker” Bo Bice belted out his new single, “The Real Thing.”