Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Congratulations, Scotty McCreery.

And congratulations, American Idol voters.

For the first time in three years, you picked the deserving American Idol finalist.

And didn’t fall for the bull the show was dishing out Tuesday night.

The 17-year-old from Garner, N.C., arrived on the Idol scene in the Milwaukee auditions, surprising the judges with his deep voice and impressing them with his pitch-perfect rendition of Josh Turner’s “Your Man.”

But over the long haul that is an American Idol season, it was his consistency and stage presence that became most impressive.

Just 17, a junior at Garner Magnet High School, he never seemed in awe of the Idol stage or by performing in front of millions of viewers.

Week after week, he simply took the stage and turned in one of each show’s top vocals, albeit with a few weird facial expressions thrown in.

And when the music stopped playing and the interviews started, you couldn’t help but be impressed by Scotty’s attitude.

He never came off as cocky or overconfident. It was clear he had high expections for himself.

Like during Hollywood Week, when Scotty admitted he wasn’t the man he should of been on group performance day because he had failed to stand up for a fellow teenager  dismissed from his team.

Ironically, it a gentlemanly gesture almost did in this All-American boy.

A week ago, he won the coin toss allowing an Idol finalist to choose whether he wants to sing first or last on the season finale. Conventional wisdom says it’s best to sing last, just before the viewers at home start voting.

Scotty deferred to Lauren Alaina. He’d let his female counterpart choose. She, naturally, chose to sing last.

What Scotty couldn’t have known was what the powers that be at Idol had up their sleeves. Lauren Alaina had been their chosen one, the contestant they’d tabbed at the favorite back in the Nashville auditions, the contestant that was supposed to be the second coming of Carrie Underwood.

So for Lauren’s last performance Tuesday night, Idol tried to create a moment. They handed her “Like My Mother Does” as her first single. They had Ryan escort her from the stage into the audience in the middle of the song. That way, she could embrace her mom while singing.

And when the song ended, Idol’s three cheerleaders turned nincompoops — please, never call them judges — declared that Lauren Alaina had won the night. That she should be the next American Idol.

Never mind that she lacked Scotty’s stage presence all season. Never mind that she lacked Scotty’s consistency. Never mind that she failed to deliver Idol “moments” to that point.

And suddenly Scotty McCreery wasn’t just battling a fellow teen with a twang. Suddenly, he had five foes — Lauren, the three nincompoops and Nigel Lythgoe, the ringmaster behind Idol’s circus.

But when more than 122 million votes were counted, Scotty McCreery emerged the new Idol champ. And he, not Lauren, was singing when Wednesday’s show ended. The song: “Love You This Big,” which will become his first single.

Well, he sorta performed it.  He made his own trip into the audience, to embrace both of his parents and other families members, and seemed more interested in sharing the moment with them than singing any victory song.

Then he traveled back onto the stage to greet each of the other Season 10 cast members — Lauren included — before slumping to the stage, overcome with emotion.

At least until he opened his mouth in a teenager’s attempt to catch a piece of falling confetti on his tongue.

A wonderful reminder, Nigel Lythgoe, that Idol “moments” happen.

They don’t need to be created.

Editor’s Note: For a photo gallery from Wednesday’s show, and other random thoughts on the Idol finale, go here.