, Life After ‘Idol’ , Hot Topics Crystal Bowersox, a 24-year-old single mom from Ohio, was the clear front-runner for most of season 9, with such memorable performances as ‘People Get Ready’ (tear!), ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ and ‘Come to My Window.’ But in the end, she was defeated by another 24-year-old guitarist: Lee DeWyze, a paint salesman from Chicago.

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Crystal Bowersox on Breaking Up With Her Boyfriend and Predicting Lee’s Victory

, MJ’s Take The ‘American Idol’ 9 finale was more about the man who would be leaving than the one who would be crowned. Lee DeWyze, the humble paint salesman from Illinois, was declared the winner of American Idol. Overwhelmed, he told his runner-up that he loved her, and then sang his coronation song, a cover of U2′s ‘Beautiful Day’ as the confetti flew

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MJ’s Take: ‘Idol’ Finale Was Sleepy, Lackluster