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Wednesday's Idol: What You Didn't See
The Grand Finale
Within minutes of his – and everyone's – hearing Ryan Seacrest announce Jordin Sparks as this year's American Idol, Blake Lewis was backstage, facing the press. "It's bittersweet right now," he said, "because it's over, and like three seconds before I got on the stage with Jordin at the end of the – it was just like, 'Oh, man, it's done. This is like the last moment I get to step on the American Idol stage, and the journey has truly been a blessing.' " And just what was it Blake whispered in Jordin's era as Ryan's was breaking open the envelope? "I told her two things," said Blake. "I said, 'I love you, Jordin Sparks.' And I said, 'If it comes down to me singing this last song, will you do a duet with me?' "Tuesday's Idol: What You Didn't See
Blake's VIP Treatment
Thirty minutes before the show started, Blake Lewis, rockin' his performance gear, made an appearance in the FOX VIP room in the Kodak Theatre lobby. The room lit up as the finalist was escorted in, looking cool as ice despite having to get onstage and take on Jordin Sparks moments later. Blake, who was all smiles, greeted guests, shaking hands as he made his way around the room.The Idols
Johnny the warm-up guy led the cheers and jeers at the Kodak Theatre Tuesday night. With the clock counting down to show time, he introduced the top 10 (minus two), sending the crowd into hysterics as Haley Scarnato, Melinda Doolittle, Chris Sligh, Sanjaya Malakar, Phil Stacey (wearing his black and white sailor suit), Gina Glocksen, Brandon Rogers, Stephanie Edwards and Chris Richardson made their way into the room. And this group, who will hit the road for the American Idols Live tour this summer, couldn't have been a happier, more easy-going bunch.Tuesday Night's Idol: Jordin Looks (and Sounds!) Like a Winner
PEOPLE critic Tom Gliatto thinks the last song was the determining factor.
Episode 38
The hour-long performance finale with Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks ended with what I first thought was an incredibly dumb idea: They both were made to perform a soggy new inspirational ballad called "This Is My Now," the winning entry in the show's songwriting contest. But it became the defining moment of the night and maybe the season, showing how an unfamiliar, not terribly distinguished piece of music can be completely transformed from one voice to the next.
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Elliott Yamin to Idols: Hold Your Head High
Season 5 semi-finalist Elliott Yamin has some advice for Melinda Doolitte: "The show door is closing but many more doors are getting ready to open. The way I approached it when I got the boot from the show was I felt like I was graduating and moving on to bigger and better things." Which is exactly what he did when his self-titled debut album was released in March.
"I told them to hold their heads up high and be proud of what they've accomplished and just to seize every opportunity from this point forward," he says. "There are going to be a lot of them."
The former Idol, who performed his single "Wait for You" on last week's show to a roaring crowd, says being back on the Idol stage was like coming home. "It felt great," he says. "I made a lot of good friends on that set. So it was great to see all my old buddies and catch up with people."
Simon Says He'll Quit Idol
American Idol judge Simon Cowell says that he'll quit the popular talent search – after 10 seasons.
"I'm doing three more and that's it," Cowell says. "That will be ten seasons at the end of that."
Actually, that will be nine seasons but we'll forgive him for misspeaking.
Cowell made the comments on Access Hollywood in an interview with Tony Potts to discuss the finale of season six and the future of the show.
Oprah's Idol Choice: Jordin Sparks
Oprah Winfrey, an American Idol fan? Yes! As the talk show host and millions of fans prepare to vote for the next American Idol on Tuesday night, we know for sure that whose number Oprah will be dialing when the phone lines open – Jordin Sparks'!
PEOPLE asked the influential philanthropist whom she would like see take the Idol crown and she immediately responded "Jordin."
"[I like her] personality. She can sing," Winfrey told PEOPLE Sunday night at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, where she received the distinguished Humanitarian Award from the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity.
"She has 'it.' I know a few things about 'it' because I chose all my girls at the school [in South Africa] based on "it." So Jordin has 'it.'"
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Paula Abdul Breaks Her Nose
Paula Abdul, in an effort to avoid stepping on her Chihuahua Tulip, ended up tripping and breaking her nose Saturday, PEOPLE confirms with her rep David Brokaw.
"She went to the doctor and she did break her nose, but she's moving on and doing great" Brokaw says. "She looks terrific. If you didn't know she broke her nose, you'd never guess anything happened to her."
Despite the injury, Abdul is expected to make the Idol performance show on Tuesday and the season finale on Wednesday, when Jordin Sparks faces off with Blake Lewis for the sixth Idol title.
Who Will Win Idol? Simon Sounds Off
As Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks prepare for their final American Idol showdown, public opinion is divided about who will be the sixth winner. Even the unabashedly opinionated Simon Cowell isn't sure who will win. "I think they both have different strengths," he recently told reporters. "One's a better entertainer and one's a better singer, so I think it will be down to what they do on the night." But when it came to other Idol-related topics, Cowell was his characteristically outspoken self. Check out what he had to say about his playful quibbling with Ryan Seacrest, his thoughts on Melinda Doolittle's exit, on Sanjaya mania and Kelly Clarkson's controversial upcoming album.
Get Jordin Sparks's Affordable And Chic Dress!
Seventeen-year old Jordin Sparks has a 50/50 shot at being the next American Idol, but she hasn't let the fame go to her head – or wardrobe! We spotted her in this beautiful and reasonably priced Hot Kiss dress as she sang her way into the final two. The colors and flow of the chiffon make it so feminine, and the braided belt is a nice and unexpected touch. It's also a great transition from day to night as the weather becomes warmer. Get yours today at windsorstore.com for $55.
Go to Off the Rack and tell us: What do you think of Jordin's dress?
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Sanjaya's New 'Do
Sanjaya Malakar is back to his old hair tricks. The ousted Idol contestant popped up in Venice Beach on Friday, wearing a new wacky wig while hanging out with some cheerleaders from UCLA. The 17-year-old was shooting a segment that will air on the show's season finale on Wednesday.
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