Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Ryan Seacrest and the American Idol finalists were not joking last night.

In what has to be an Idol first, Season 13 winner Caleb Johnson is taking Season 13 runner-up Jena Irene to her prom.

Jena Irene and Ryan Seacrest react as Caleb Johnson is announced as American Idol’s winner of Season 13. (FOX Photo)

That would be on Wednesday at Farmington Hills High School in Michigan, three days after Caleb sings the national anthem at the National Memorial Day celebration in Washington, D.C.

“I think I’m just going to be up int he air a couple of days, going and forth (from L.A.),” Caleb said during a Thursday afternoon conference call for the media.

As for attending a high school prom at age 23, as the new American Idol, as the guy who just beat the gal from Farmington Hills …

“It should be really funny and maybe a little awkward, but we’re going to have a blast,” Caleb predicted.

“(Jena) is an absolutely amazing, phenomenal singer,” he added. “She’s sweet and funny and kind. We have this really weird, amazing connection. She’s incredible.”

Of course, the Memorial Day gig and the prom are short term.

Jena Irene and Caleb Johnson take the stage for Wednesday’s Season 13 American Idol finale. (FOX Photo)

“I want to record a heavy, soulful, convicted rock-and-roll record with a lot of depth,” Caleb said. “I’m a big album fan. I want this to be an all-killer, no-filler record.”

And, Daughtry-like, Caleb plans for form a post-show band that he will front.

Caleb won Idol on his third try. He made it to Hollywood in Season 10. He made it to the brink of the semifinals in Season 11.

He said Friday he thinks the year he took off to write and perform with his band back in Asheville, N.C., served him well.

“I knew after the first live show, I can do this, if I just buckle down and give my best performance, week after week.”