American Idol
Gossip (Page 4)

We were surprised that Kris Allen won American Idol.

Still, that wasn't the most unexpected thing to take place on the stage of the Nokia Theatre last night.

As part of the two-hour finale, Kara DioGuardi sang a duet with former nemesis Katrina Darrell! (Remember her? Darrell earned the nickname "Bikini Girl" during the initial rounds of Idol auditions for donning a swimsuit while she sang for the judges.)

Moreover, at the end of their "Vision of Love" rendition, DioGuardi flashed her own bikini body for the world to see.

We strongly recommend watching the duet, if only for Randy Jackson's priceless reaction when Darrell comes out on stage, clearly enhanced in one area of her body.

Compare Kara and Katrina below and then answer our poll question:

Who has the better bikini body?

From handsome also-ran to American Idol champion.

Kris Allen completed an incredible journey this week by being named the eighth-ever winner of the most popular show on television.

Overlooked when the competition began - at the outset, Simon Cowell even suggested that Allen should keep his marriage a secret because he would only advance based on his looks - Allen shed his underdog label and overcame Adam Lambert in a tightly-contested finale.

What was Allen's reaction upon winning? He said: "Adam deserves this. I'm sorry." Class act (and we agree!).

Will Kris follow in the successful footsteps of past victors such as Carrie Underwood? Or the anonymous footsteps of champs such as Reuben Studdard?

Only time will tell. For now, let's just wish a hearty congratulations to one of the most unexpected winners in show history!

Did Kris Allen deserve to be named the American Idol winner? Answer the poll and then leave a comment. Let us know!

Take a look back at Allen's American Idol journey. Click on the following photos to enlarge images of the champion:

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Two finalists. Three songs each. One final night of performances.

American Idol will crown its eighth champion tonight. But, first, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen each had a few chances to leave viewers with a winning impression. Let's review each finalist's renditions from last night...

ROUND ONE: We start with the contestant's choice, as both Lambert and Allen brought back classics from earlier this season.

Lambert chose the Tears for Fears song "Mad World," making a fog-filled entrance and donning a long, black overcoat. Once again, the performance showcased this singer's sultry voice and unparalleled range. It earned an "A-plus for Adam" from Randy.

Allen, meanwhile, played to his strength. Seated behind a piano, he went with "Ain't No Sunshine." Simon appeared to favor this routine over that of Lambert, while Kara gushed over how well Kris connected with the audience.
EDGE: Even.

Which opening performance did you prefer on the American Idol finale?

ROUND TWO: Time for American Idol creator Simon Fuller to play a role. He chose the songs for this round.

Kara wasn't shy about deeming Lambert's rendition of Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" as his best performance of the season. We wouldn't go that far, but the crooner held himself back from changing the arrangement too much, or overly relying on his patented screams. A great showcase for his versatility.

Here's where Kris lost ground to Adam. Strumming his guitar to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On," Allen didn't put on a finale-worthy performance. We agreed with Simon and Randy assessment: it was fine and all, but not memorable enough, given the circumstances.
EDGE: Lambert.

Which round two performance did you prefer on the American Idol finale?

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Adam Lambert and Kris Allen take on each other in tonight's American Idol finale.

The day before this monumental showdown, however, the pair of finalists faced the media together. Here's a summary of the responses they gave a series of journalists outside Hollywood's Nokia Theatre...

Kris, on being nervous: “I don’t feel too much pressure right now. We’ve made it. I feel like we’ve accomplished exactly what we wanted to accomplish, and we’re going to go out there and have a good show. It’s going to be a lot of fun.” 

Adam, on comparisons to Kris: “We’re just very different types of artists, and at this point, it’s not about out singing each other. It’s not like a direct competition. It’s about both of us staying really true to what we do.”

FRIENDS & FOES: American Idol comes down to Adam Lambert vs. Kris Allen. Who do you want to win?

Adam, on his theater experience: “This isn’t theater, so I don’t really see how it affects it at all. I’ve had experience on stage performing, but so has Kris... just in different venues. Kris has worked clubs and worked with a band... The thing that’s really cool about this competition is that it’s an equal opportunity situation.”

Kris, on if his Christian background will lead to votes: “I hope that having the Christian vote does not help with anything. I hope it has to do with your talent and the performance that you give and the package that you have, and it’s not about religion and all that kind of stuff.”

Sorry, Danny Gokey fans.

Our apologies to Alison Iraheta supporters.

While your favorites came close, only two finalists remain, as American Idol heads into its final week: Adam Lambert and Kris Allen.

One is a theatrical, flamboyant crooner; the other is a serene, acoustic guitar specialist. Which will come out on top? You tell us!

Who will win American Idol?

The winner of American Idol will either be Adam Lambert or Kris Allen.

But Danny Gokey isn't too sad over his name being left off that list, following the finalist's elimination last week.

"My whole testimony is overcoming," Gokey told reporters over the weekend. "Overcoming the impossible in my life, and now I want to take that message and tell people, 'If I can do it, you can do it.'"

Specifically, Danny is referring to the sad fact that his wife died just a few weeks before his initial American Idol tryout.

American Idol title or not, Danny Gokey keeps a smile on his face.

During this summer's tour with his fellow top 10 finalists on the show, Gokey plans to take his inspiring message on the road. He'll also continue charity work for Sophia's Heart Foundation, an organization named in honor of his wife.

"I was a nobody, and this show turned me into somebody and I'll always be thankful for the roots that I came out of because I do believe that still the best has yet to come for me," Gokey said. "This is not the end of the road."

As Adam Lambert has been singing his socks off, and his heart out, for weeks on American Idol, our staff has been singing the praises of this unique contestant.

The season eight title is clearly his to lose. But should it be?

Having already graced the cover of Entertainment Weekly, and made headlines around the country, Lambert has already won Idol. He will get a recording contract, he will top the charts for years to come and his musical dreams will come true.

Considering his talent and popularity, these goals will undoubtedly be accomplished, regardless of whether or not Adam takes home the crown Wednesday night.

Heck, one could argue that NOT being named American Idol will open Lambert up for the kind of versatile career he appears to be striving for.

Remember Chris Daughtry? He's often said his early elimination from season five allowed for a certain artistic freedom; he could instantly embark on a rock album, without the constraints often in place on American Idol champions (whose first single, in most cases, is the cheesy ballad they sing on each season's finale).

It's not hard to imagine Lambert actually benefiting, in the same way as Daughtry, from falling just short of victory.

But Kris Allen needs that crown. Kris Allen has worked hard for that crown. Kris Allen deserves a long, successful career, one likely not possible without that crown.

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He had a great voice, a great (albeit tragic) personal story and a great run on American Idol.

But Danny Gokey did not have what it takes to make the finals, as the singer was eliminated last night after solid, but unspectacular, renditions on Monday's performance show.

Ryan Seacrest caused our hearts to stop for a few moments last night, as he initially announced that Kris Allen had made it through to next week's finale.

That left Danny and Adam Lambert in the bottom two, as a nation feared the latter might actually not take his rightful place among the show's winner.

In the end, though, Ryan announced that over 88 million people voted, Lambert was safe and Danny was going home.

"This whole experience feels like a dream come true.  American Idol has given me a whole new hope for my life," said Gokey during a video montage of his journey, reflecting on how far he's come since his wife passed away last July. "It's almost like a fairy tale story.  You read about tragedies, and then you read about the triumph that comes through it - and I'm that person."

Did America make the right choice? Did Gokey deserve to go home?

Relive Danny Gokey's American Idol experience above. Click on each image to enlarge it.

Adam Lambert who?!?

Okay, Kris Allen's incredible performance of "Heartless" didn't make us forget about this season's American Idol favorite, but it did cause us to single out a different contestant than usual as our favorite this week.

Following a rendition of One Republic’s “Apologize” that Kara and Randy didn't love (even though they chose it for him), Kris blew the panel away with his take on Kanye West's single.

Jackson thought Allen's version was better than the original, DioGuardi called it “bold, brave, fearless" and Simon said:  “I had written you out [out of the competition]. That, however, has all changed.”

Who is your favorite finalist? Click on each photo for a closer look at each.

While Kris earned the top performance of the night, Lambert and Danny Gokey didn't disappoint. Here's a rundown of their evening:

- Cowell got special permission for Lambert to sing U2’s “One." As you'd expect, Adam knocked it out of the park, alternating from eerily quiet to impressively loud. Simon said it was “brilliant,” while Paula pretty much crowned him the season’s winner.

Up next? Aerosmith’s “Cryin,” a perfect choice. Kara summed it up simply: “We’ll see you at the finals." Listen to this rendition NOW.

- We didn't love Paula assignment of the Terence Trent D’Arby hit “Dance Little Sister" for Gokey. Neither did the judges, as it didn't receive rave reviews.

But Danny’s own selection of Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful” earned him high praise from Simon. He referred to the performance as “a vocal master class.”

Wow.

We'll publish a detailed recap of the final three performance show on American Idol tomorrow, but we couldn't wait another second to shower praise on one of tonight's performances.

And it wasn't given by Adam Lambert for a change!

Kris Allen delivered the goods - and then some! - with an acoustic rendition of "Heartless." Sorry, Gokeheads. But next week's finale has to come down to Allen vs. Lambert.

Watch Allen's rendition of "Heartless" below and share your thoughts in the Comments section: