Last night, "The Voice" got straight down to business for the first of its elimination nights. Jordan Smith of Team Adam was the first to be saved by America's vote, closely followed by Jeffrey Austin of Team Gwen.

Coach Gwen Stefani endorsed America's decision to save Austin with some high praise. "Jeffrey blew me away last night," she said after the announcement. "I didn't expect him to be that good."

Emily Ann Roberts of Team Blake and Madi Davis of Team Pharrell were announced as the next two advancing contestants, meaning each coach would had a team representative in next week's Top 11. Teams Blake, Gwen and Adam faired well in the next round of eliminations, advancing contestants Barrett Baber, Braden Sunshine and Amy Vachal, respectively.

Following a performance alongside their coach of "Just A Cloud Away" by Team Pharrell, the remaining five contestants took to the stage to discover their fate. Evan McKeel (Team Pharrell), Shelby Brown (Team Adam) and Zach Seabaugh (Team Blake) advanced with the blessing of America's vote, leaving Mark Hood (Team Pharrell) and Korin Bukowski (Team Gwen) left to perform for the Twitter Instant-save.

Hood delivered a spirited version of the Stevie Wonder classic "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" while Bukowski chose "Don't Know Why," made famous by Norah Jones. Sadly for Hood, America connected more with the quirky Bukowski of Team Gwen, saving her with the Twitter vote.

"I'm feeling alright, it's hard," Hood told HNGN this morning via phone while en route to his hometown of Chicago. "I never thought I'd be sitting at the airport right now. I had a feeling I'd have to sing my save song so I was prepping it with the vocal coach all day. But everything happens for a reason."

Despite his elimination, Hood said something he is very proud of was going out on a high note.

"I just thought this could be my last time, so I just wanted to give it everything I had - and I did. I wanted to have no regrets and don't, I can really say I gave everything for that last performance, it just wasn't good enough for that moment. But that's okay.

Another moment he cherishes was his team's performance with their coach, Pharrell Williams.

"That's the kind of stuff that makes me sad," he tells HNGN. "That I won't be able to do that again. That was the most incredible thing ever. I told Pharrell I never imagined standing with him on that stage and we bounced ideas off each other - it was incredible."

As for the future, Hood is hopeful. He'd like to continue his burgeoning acting career, hopefully with a role on "Empire" or one of the many Dick Wolf Chicago based shows. He also offers advice for anyone considering auditioning for the "The Voice."

"Sing with your heart," he reveals. "My heart got me through this. You have to have something to go with your voice, so if nothing else sing with you heart and you will be fine."

Next week the Top 11 hit the stage for more performances when "The Voice" continues 8 p.m. on NBC.