Jordin Sparks American Idol Winner
The broadcast from the legendary Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA, featured a number of headline performances. Fifteen-time Grammy Award winner Tony Bennett crooned "For Once in My Life"; Gwen Stefani sang "4 in the Morning"; Green Day performed John Lennon's "Working Class Hero"; Bette Midler sang her classic "Wind Beneath My Wings"; and the African Children's Choir, encoring their appearance on Idol Gives Back, delighted the audience with "Abataka."
Also returning to the American Idol stage were past winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks. Clarkson performed her new single "Never Again"; Studdard duetted with Sparks on the Motown classic "You're All I Need to Get By"; Underwood reprised her Idol Gives Back performance of "I'll Stand By You"; while Hicks belted his new single "Heaven Knows."
Honoring the 40th anniversary of the release of the Beatles' legendary "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," the returning Idols joined with this season's Top 12 to sing a medley of the iconic album's hits.
The Top 6 guys were joined by Smokey Robinson for a medley of his hits, specially arranged by David Thomas of Take 6, while the Top 6 girls joined Gladys Knight for a medley of her chart-topping songs.  Lewis and Doug E. Fresh had the audience on its feet as they performed "The Show." Third-place finisher Melinda Doolittle had the house jumping with her rendition of "Hold Up the Light" featuring gospel duo BeBe and CeCe Winans. Finalist Sanjaya Malakar joined Aerosmith's Joe Perry on the Kinks' "You Really Got Me." Sparks and Lewis kicked off the show with a duet of another Beatles tune, "I Saw Her Standing There."
Sparks is the sixth American Idol to be crowned, joining Clarkson, Studdard, Fantasia, Underwood and Hicks as winners of the coveted title, a major recording contract and a management contract.
On Tuesday night's final competition, Sparks and Lewis each performed three songs. Both co-finalists sang "This Is My Now," Scott Krippayne and Jeff Peabody's winning entry in this season's American Idol Songwriting Contest. In addition, Sparks sang "Fighter" and "Broken Wing," and Lewis sang "She Will" and "You Give Love a Bad Name." The night was capped by a special performance by Daughtry, the band fronted by 2006 American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry, of their hit song "Home."
Sparks capped her coronation on Wednesday's finale by reprising "This Is My Now." The song is available for digital download exclusively on Americanidol.com and iTunes.com.
Dont't forget to also check out: American Idol
Comments (9)
To leave a comment, please sign in or use
Facebook or Twitter
Louise7
Melinda Doolittle's Debut Album Coming Back to You Drops 2/3/2009 - Listen to her Single "It's Your Love" at http://myspace.com/MelindaDoolittle
A release date has been set for her upcoming album. Coming Back To You will drop on February 3 2009, and it promises to be an eclectic mix of blues, classic R&B and jazz.
The first single, "It's Your Love" will be released to radio soon.
Keep updated about Melinda's career at http://www.melindasbackups.com
3 years agoby @louise7Flag
Phatlightning
that last comment was brought to you in part by... melindasbackupsreallydontgiveaf*ck.com
3 years agoby @sxers2k1Flag
Phatlightning
wow, that was plug-tacular. thanks!
3 years agoby @sxers2k1Flag
Jim
She is hot though.
5 years agoby @leonidus300Flag
Jim
For the past 4 years, I've been saying I'm not going to get addicted to A.I. It finally happened! Theres no way she's 17!
5 years agoby @leonidus300Flag
Mushy
Blake got dissed, they gave him a garbage final song. Melinda was good but she deserved to be in the background. I wish Antonella had been on the finale.
5 years agoby @mushyFlag
Courtney O.
Yea she is really good. She def deserves it.
5 years agoby @chickflickFlag
Brian
Thank god it's over.
5 years agoby @brianFlag
Michael5
She's good, but Doolittle got ripped !!!!!
5 years agoby @michael5Flag