Scotty McCreery is the new "American Idol," defeating fellow country crooner Lauren Alaina.
McCreery, 17, of Garner, N.C., with a strikingly deep voice, received more viewer votes than Alaina, a peppy 16-year-old from Rossville, Ga. His victory Wednesday in the first all-country finale for the Fox show continued a recent pattern: He's the fourth male in a row to win; the last female to win was Jordin Sparks, 17, in 2007.
"I never in my wildest dreams," McCreery said. "I've got to thank the Lord first ... he got me here."
Alaina competed Tuesday despite a vocal cord injury that required treatment. She received raves from the judges, but the consistently popular McCreery claimed the title and a record contract. The contest, in its 10th season, drew a record 122 million-plus votes, host Ryan Seacrest said during the finale. For Fox, it's affirmation there's still life in the series that's had a long ratings reign as No. 1.
The show attracted high-wattage stars including Beyoncé, Jack Black, Tom Jones and Tony Bennett, who performed at the Nokia Theatre with the top-finishing "Idol" contestants. Judge Jennifer Lopez even got into the act. Draped in a scanty outfit and shaking her booty, she took the stage to dance while husband, Marc Anthony, sang. The show remains a hot promotional platform, with Seacrest helping some stars push either movies (Black's new "Kung Fu Panda 2") or a Las Vegas show (Gladys Knight). Lady Gaga, whose new album "Born this Way" is out this week, was another performer. The grandest bid for attention came from Broadway's troubled "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," with composers Bono and The Edge performing with the musical's star, Reeve Carney.
Kardashian and Humphries engagedKim Kardashian is engaged to her boyfriend of six months, New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries. He proposed May 18 with a 20.5-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond ring. "I just knew I wanted it to be big," Humphries, 26, tells People magazine. How did he propose? He was waiting -- on bended knee -- in her Beverly Hills bedroom with red rose petals spelling out the words, "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" Says Kardashian, 30: "I didn't expect this at all."
DENIED: An arbitration panel rejected a bid by actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, for compensation stemming from a dispute with the contractor hired to build the couple's $10 million villa in Sun Valley, Idaho. The three-member panel of the American Arbitration Association concluded the couple failed to make a compelling case that alleged defects in their home -- including a roof that leaked and nearly collapsed -- should be pinned on Storey Construction. Hanks and Wilson sought $3 million in damages. However, the panel sided with Hanks and Wilson in a countersuit filed by the contractor.
