Update: And the results are in …
After the nationwide vote, Ryan Seacrest announces that the winner of American Idol is …
Lee DeWyze.
The paint clerk from Chicago held on to win, despite Crystal’s dominance of the final performance show.
No doubt, he was one of the most improved contestants through the course of the competition.
And the judges virtually declared him the winner after his brilliant rendition of “Hallelujah” a week ago.
“This is amazing,” Lee said, after receiving the news from Ryan Seacrest. “I’ve never been happier in my life. There are no words to describe this.”
Check back in a few minutes for photos from the show.
Previously …
Did Crystal Bowersox do enough Tuesday night to steal the momentum and the American Idol crown from Lee DeWyze?
Or did Lee, the former paint store clerk with the gruff voice, prevail as Simon Cowell predicted he would earlier this week?
We’ll find out a little after 10 p.m.
No doubt, Lee’s “Hallelujah” was awfully impressive last week. No doubt, Crystal’s “Up to the Mountain” was downright magical last night.
And so the fun begins.
Now we know what those group numbers have been missing all year. Alice Cooper, plus Orianthi on guitar, plus a chorus with every member wearing black eye makeup. Performing — if the Catholic school girl outfits weren’t a dead giveaway — “School’s Out.”
Strong start for the show, though someone should have found Michael Lynche a larger suit.
Next up, Kris Allen, singing the second single, “The Truth,” off his debut album. Like the fact that so many former Idols are scheduled to perform tonight.
Love the mood of this tongue-in-cheek Simon Cowell tribute. First, tongue-in-cheek video from Ryan and his fellow Idol judges. Now a “Simon Says” song featuring some of his most memorable lines as former cast-offs (including Tatiana Del Toro) gather on stage.
One thing about Idol: No matter how disjointed and unorthodox some of the season episodes come off, the show normally puts on a very entertaining finale.
The stars just keep showing up on the Idol stage. So far, we’ve had the Bee Gees, Michael McDonald, Christina Aguilera, Daryl Hall and John Oates and a duet from Crystal and Alanis Morissette that left me wanting more.
At some point, the Associated Press or Fox is going to start moving photos of these performances. When they do, I’ll be posting them, so keep checking back.
By the way, have you seen the interview clips with the contestants from after last night’s show?
Crystal said she realizes there have been times she’s been criticized for not showing enough motion on the show. But if she wins, Crystal says she just might “whoop and holler.” Personally, I hope we get to see just that.
Next up: Carrie Underwood with her latest single, “Undo It.” A kick-butt song, right? Little wonder she’s enjoyed so much success since the show.
Now look who shows up on the Idol stage: Mr. Invisible, aka Bret Michaels, singing “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” with Casey James.
Now it’s Lee’s turn to take center stage again, with the Chicago guy performing, quite appropriately, a medley with the band Chicago.
And no Idol finale would be complete without some pleasant surprises. Like that duet featuring Gen. Larry Platt and — yes, William Hung — singing “Pants on the Ground,” surrounded by a squadron of dancers whose pants wind up on the stage.
And another surprise … well, sort of … Paula Abdul shows up on the Idol stage. To compare Simon to a cartoon cat, tease him about a baby backstage that it’s his turn to feed and provide the lead-in for a nice tribute video.
Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Taylor Hicks, Kris Allen and Fantasia now take the stage to sing “Together We Are One.” To be joined by a legion of past Idol contestants.
Simon, summoned to the stage, nearly teared up during that farewell. But his message to the crowd: The show will go on.
“The truth is, you guys are the judge,” he said, with all the past Idols standing behind him. “And you’ve done an incredible job over the years.”
We’re getting closer, folks. Lee and Crystal are back onstage together, singing “With a Little Help from My Friends,” with Joe Cocker. And they’re slaying it.
Thanks to TV Guide, the American Idol fun starts early on finale night, with a little help from Justin Guarini, Brooke White and Mikalah Gordon (who’s just as mouthy as when she was back on season four).
They’re interviewing former Idol contestants on the red carpet. From my count, 14 former contestants have said who they think should win tonight. Ten picked Crystal.
For a look back at the song-by-song grades from last night, go here. For last night’s recap, go here.
Meanwhile, if you weren’t watching the red carpet show, here’s what you missed.
* Matt Giraud from season eight says he thinks Crystal Bowersox should win Idol after last night’s performance. But he thinks Lee DeWyze might take the Idol crown nevertheless.
* Michael Sarver, also from season eight, is rooting for Lee DeWyze. He thinks Idol will really suffer from Simon’s absence. As I already reported, he has a new single on iTunes (“Ferris Wheel”) with his debut album due out July 27.
* Vonzell Solomon, the third-place finisher back in season four, says she’ll be pulling for Crystal tonight, predicting she’ll “prosper after Idol.”
* Kristy Lee Cook says “Crystal, after last night, should win.” Kristy Lee was on the wrong end of some of Simon’s harshest critiques back when she was a season seven contestant. She calls the Idol judge irreplaceable, but predicts “the show will go on.”
* Chris Richardson, from season six, says he’s rooting for Crystal and would love to write songs with her. (He’s written with Blake Lewis and Anoop Desai.) By the way, Chris has a single coming out in August and an album sometime in the fourth quarter of this year.
* Kimberly Caldwell, who used to co-host this show with Justin, talks about her single, “Mess of You,” her upcoming album and her prediction for tonight. If I followed, she thinks Lee will win because of his growth over the course of the show.
* Jason Castro, from season seven, says he’s a Crystal fan, “and not just because of the hair.” But all the young kids he talks to said they voted for Lee. Returning to Idol is “like Christmas,” Jason says.
* William Hung, he of the notorious “She Bangs” audition back in season three, also thinks Crystal should win because her songs 
come from “the bottom of her heart.” Wow, William Hung.
* David Archuleta, of season seven, applauds Lee for his growth over the course of the season, but proclaims that Crystal “nailed it” last night. How’s that for straddling the line.
* Lakisha Jones, from season six, says she’s pulling for Lee because he’s “so humble, and it comes across on the screen.”
* Michael Johns, from season seven, says Crystal was “in the zone” last night and deserves to win.
* Melinda Doolittle, from season six, says she’s pulling for Lee. She likes “the swagger” he’s shown in spite of what she admitted was a “rough” final for him.
* Blake Lewis, from season six, says he voted for Crystal last night, 
but thinks Lee will win.
* Carly Smithson, from season seven, stopped by to talk about her band “We Are the Fallen” and the album they just released, “Tear the World Down.” She suggested Crystal should win, because it’s been a while (two years) since a female did.
For the record, Nigel Lythgoe and Raquel Welch also showed up on the red carpet and both said they think Crystal should win.
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