Kris Allen seemed to have no chance in winning this competition as Lambert’s commanding vocal range and stage presence - and the judges’ adoration of him - at times turned “Idol” into “The Adam Lambert Show,” with the other contestants mere guests. But it turned out that “Idol” viewers finally embraced Kris’s talent and thus, he was crowned the “American Idol” Season 8 champion on Wednesday night (May 20), after nearly 100 million votes declared the 23-year-old Conway, Arkansas native the winner over Adam Lambert.
On Tuesday night’s final performance show, “Idol” judge Simon Cowell admitted that he had doubted whether Allen belonged in the finale.

“When your name was announced last week I wasn’t sure whether America had made the right choice,” Cowell told Allen. “But I absolutely take all that back now.”
Allen, who bloomed during the season, gaining more assurance onstage and winning viewers over with his smooth, heartfelt vocals, modest demeanor and boy-next-door good image, appeared shocked as Lambert, a 27-year-old musical theater actor, embraced him after host Ryan Seacrest’s announcement.
“It feels good, but Adam deserves this,” Allen said to Seacrest. “I don’t even know what to feel right now, this is crazy.” Even hours after winning, Allen appeared stunned.
“I felt shocked almost every week that I made it,” he told reporters. “To be the American Idol, I’m completely shocked.”
The two-hour finale included performances by the Black Eyed Peas, Cyndi Lauper, Carlos Santana, and Rod Stewart. During the finale, contestants were paired with veteran recording artists for duets. Allen broke out the guitar with Keith Urban to perform the country singer’s “Kiss a Girl;” third runner-up Danny Gokey and Lionel Richie did a medley of “Hello,” “Just Go,” and “All Night Long;” Cyndi Lauper teamed up with fourth-place finisher Allison Iraheta on “Time After Time;” and Lambert joined the glam rock band KISS for a pyro-heavy take on “Detroit Rock City” and “I Wanna Rock and Roll All Nite.” All thirteen contestants provided the vocals for Carlos Santana on “Black Magic Woman” and “Smooth”.
And, before the results were announced, Lambert and Allen had a moment of musical camaraderie: They joined together with Queen on the rock anthem “We Are the Champions.”
“Adam did win. So did Kris. Nobody lost tonight. These are two champions,” said Paul Stanley from KISS backstage. Additionally, Simon Cowell tipped his hat to both contestants Wednesday. “To both of you, and I don’t normally mean this, I thought you were both brilliant. … The future’s all yours,” the judge said.

Kris Allen ‘American Idol’ Winner ! video

sources Billboard.com; abs-cbnnews.com; news.yahoo.com

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 21st, 2009 at 2:02 am and is filed under Americal Idol.