‘American Idol’ finale kicks off with Kris Allen, salute to Simon Cowell

‘American Idol’ finale kicks off with Kris Allen

LOS ANGELES — Ryan Seacrest, kicking off the finale of “American Idol,” says a slim margin of votes separated Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze coming into the final lap of the competition.

The two finalists were within a 2 percent margin before they performed Tuesday and viewers made their final decision, Seacrest said on Wednesday night’s show.

Bowersox, 24, of Toledo, Ohio, soared in her performances, while DeWyze, also 24, of Mount Prospect, Ill., was praised by the show’s judges for his spirit and voice but fell short of living up to his potential.

Seacrest, the show’s host, noted Simon Cowell was making his final appearance as an “American Idol” judge, which prompted Randy Jackson to stand and applaud Cowell. A film tribute to the sharp-tongued Brit followed.

Kris Allen, last year’s winner, took a turn on stage to perform “The Truth.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The competition between Mama Sox and the shy paint store clerk comes to an end Wednesday on “American Idol.”

Crystal Bowersox, 24, of Toledo, Ohio, and Lee DeWyze, also 24, of Mount Prospect, Ill., the season nine finalists, had tested themselves on a trio each of songs Tuesday night, giving viewers one last listen before voting for “Idol’s” ninth champion.

The winner was to be announced on Wednesday night’s two-hour finale on Fox.

Bowersox, a young mother nicknamed “Mama Sox” on the show, soared in her Tuesday performances, while DeWyze was praised by the show’s judges for his spirit and voice but fell short, the majority signaled, of living up to his potential.

“You took that song and you absolutely nailed it,” Simon Cowell said of Bowersox’s rendition of “Black Velvet,” a song he said he’s normally “allergic” to because it gets murdered.

Before he could heap praise on the dreadlocked singer with the Janis Joplinesque voice for her final song, a soulful “Up to the Mountain,” Bowersox jumped in with a comment for Cowell, who’s leaving the top-rated series.

“You’ve been amazing this season,” she said, thanking him for his criticism and help and, in a charming moment, wishing the highly paid record and TV producer good luck “on your future endeavors.”

Cowell, known for his barbs and not for sentiment, kept his cool as he acknowledged the tribute.

“Since this is becoming a bit of a lovefest tonight, I thought that was by far the best performance and the song of the night,” he told Bowersox. “And since this is going to be the final critique I’m ever gonna give, I would just like to say that was outstanding.”

Kara DioGuardi told Bowersox that she showed “fire in her belly” with her performance of Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” and Ellen DeGeneres called her “compelling” on stage.

The assessments of DeWyze were respectful but more measured — with Ellen DeGeneres the exception.

“Lee, I couldn’t be prouder if I birthed you myself,” she told him after he sang Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer.”

“You sounded nice doing it,” Randy Jackson said the performance, but added, “But, c’mon, man, pick it up, pick it up … Get some more energy going.”

DioGuardi admired DeWyze as an “emotionally accessible” singer after he performed R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” as his second number, but Cowell urged him to try harder.

“When you come out for your last performance, I want a 10 out of, because you’re capable of that,” Cowell told him.

With U2’s “Beautiful Day,” Jackson welcomed hearing “the guy with the strong big rock voice” and DioGuardi said he had “one of the most commercial voices of the season” and deserved to be in the finale.

But Cowell, who had pointed to DeWyze as the frontrunner before the finale performances, seemed to damn with faint praise.

Noting that this was his last night of judging, Cowell said that “American Idol” was designed for someone like DeWyze, who worked in a paint shop when he tried out for the show and needed a break.

Telling DeWyze that he’d pushed himself hard but remained a nice person, Cowell added, “I genuinely wish the best for you. You’re a great guy.”

If DeWyze wins, his first single will be “Beautiful Day,” while Bowersox will release “Up to the Mountain.”

Host Ryan Seacrest, who appeared to have an on-air testy relationship with Cowell this season, had only warm words for him Tuesday.

“We really are going to miss you. You are a dear friend and we wouldn’t be here without you,” Seacrest said.

Cowell isn’t going far: He’s going to produce and judge “The X Factor,” a Fox version of his popular British talent contest.

Fox is a unit of News Corp.

Online:

www.americanidol.com