The extraordinary sixth season of AMERICAN IDOL came to a spectacular conclusion tonight as 17-year-old Jordin Sparks was crowned the competition's youngest-ever winner during the live two-hour season finale on FOX. Sparks from Glendale, AZ, emerged as America's choice in a competition that began with over 100,000 hopefuls who auditioned in San Antonio, Minneapolis, Memphis, Birmingham, Los Angeles, New York and Seattle. Over the course of the season, viewers cast a record-breaking number of votes almost 610 million in support of their favorite contestants. Amazingly, 74 million votes were received after Tuesday's performance show, shattering the previous world record of 70 million set April 24 following the IDOL GIVES BACK fund-raising special.

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.

AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

Here is the song list from American Idol 6

Melinda Doolittle Songs Sung
Wednesday, February 21 "Since You've Been Gone" Aretha Franklin
Wednesday, February 28 "My Funny Valentine" Mitzi Green
Wednesday, March 7 "I'm a Woman" Peggy Lee
Tuesday, March 13 "Home" The Wiz (musical)
Tuesday, March 20 "As Long As He Needs Me" Oliver (musical)
Tuesday, March 27 "Heaven Knows" Donna Summer
Tuesday, April 3 "I've Got Rhythm" Tony Bennett
Tuesday, April 10 "Sway" Michael Buble
Tuesday, April 17 "Trouble is a Woman" Julie Reeves
Tuesday, April 24 "There Will Come a Day" Faith Hill
Tuesday, May 1 "Have A Nice Day" Bon Jovi
Tuesday, May 8 "Love You Inside And Out" Bee Gees
"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" Bee Gees
Tuesday, May 15 "I Believe in You and Me" Whitney Houston
"Not Bush City Limits" Ike and Tina Turner
"I'm a Woman" Peggy Lee

Stephanie Edwards Songs Sung
Wednesday, February 21 "How Come You Don't Call Me" Prince
Wednesday, February 28 "Dangerously In Love" Beyonce
Wednesday, March 7 "Sweet Thing" Chaka Khan
Tuesday, March 13 "Love Hangover" Diana Ross
Tuesday, March 20 "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" Dusty Springfield

Gina Glocksen Songs Sung
Wednesday, February 21 "All By Myself" Eric Carmen
Wednesday, February 28 "Alone" Heart
Wednesday, March 7 "Call Me When You're Sober" Evanescence
Tuesday, March 13 "Love Child" Diana Ross and The Supremes
Tuesday, March 20 "Paint It Black" The Rolling Stones
Tuesday, March 27 "I'll Stand By You" The Pretenders
Tuesday, April 3 "Smile" Charlie Chaplin

LaKisha Jones Songs Sung
Wednesday, February 21 "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" Jennifer Holliday
Wednesday, February 28 "Midnight Train to Georgia" Gladys Knight & The Pips
Wednesday, March 7 "I Have Nothing" Whitney Houston
Tuesday, March 13 "God Bless the Child" Billie Holiday
Tuesday, March 20 "Diamonds Are Forever" Shirley Bassey
Tuesday, March 27 "Last Dance" Donna Summer
Tuesday, April 3 "Stormy Weather (Ain't No Sunshine)" Bill Withers
Tuesday, April 10 "Conga" Gloria Estefan
Tuesday, April 17 "Jesus Take the Wheel" Carrie Underwood
Tuesday, April 24 "I Believe" Fantasia
Tuesday, May 1 "This Ain't a Love Song" Bong Jovi
Tuesday, May 8 "Stayin' Alive" Bee Gees
"Run to Me" Bee Gees


Blake Lewis Songs Sung
Tuesday, February 20 "Somewhere Only We Know" Keane
Tuesday, February 27 "Virtual Insanity" Jamiroquai
Tuesday, March 6 "All Mixed Up" 311
Tuesday, March 13 "You Keep Me Hanging On" Diana Ross and The Supremes
Tuesday, March 20 "Time of the Season" The Zombies
Tuesday, March 27 "Love Song" The Cure
Tuesday, April 3 "Mack the Knife" Ella Fitzgerald
Tuesday, April 10 "I Need to Know" Marc Anthony
Tuesday, April 17 "When the Stars Go Blue" Tim McGraw
Tuesday, April 24 "Imagine" John Lennon
Tuesday, May 1 "You Give Love a Bad Name" Bon Jovi
Tuesday, May 9 "You Should Be Dancing" Bee Gees
"This Is Where I Came In" Bee Gees
Tuesday, May 15 "Roxanne" Sting
"This Love" Maroon 5
"When I Get You Alone" Robin Thicke

Sanjaya Malakar Songs Sung
Tuesday, February 20 "Knocks Me Off My Feet" Stevie Wonder
Tuesday, February 27 "Steppin' Out With My Baby" Tony Bennett
Tuesday, March 6 "Waiting On the World to Change" John Mayer
Tuesday, March 13 "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Diana Ross
Tuesday, March 20 "You Really Got Me" The Kinks
Tuesday, March 27 "Bathwater" No Doubt
Tuesday, April 3 "Cheek to Cheek" Ella Fitzgerald
Tuesday, April 10 "Besame Mucho" Andrea Bocelli
Tuesday, April 17 "Something to Talk About" Bonnie Raitt

Chris Richardson Songs Sung
Tuesday, February 20 "I Don't Wanna Be" Gavid DeGraw
Tuesday, February 27 "Geek in the Pink" Jason Mraz
Tuesday, March 6 "Tonight I Wanna Cry" Keith Urban
Tuesday, March 13 "The Boss" Diana Ross
Tuesday, March 20 "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" Gerry And The Pacemakers
Tuesday, March 27 "Don't Speak" No Doubt
Tuesday, April 3 "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" Duke Ellington
Tuesday, April 10 "Smooth" Santana-Rob Thomas
Tuesday, April 17 "Mayberry" Rascal Flatts
Tuesday, April 24 "Change the World" Eric Clapton
Tuesday, May 1 "Wanted Dead, Or Alive" Bon Jovi

Brandon Rogers Songs Sung
Tuesday, Feb 20 "Rock With You" Michael Jackson
Tuesday, February 27 "Time After Time" Cyndi Lauper
Tuesday, March 6 "I Just Want To Celebrate" Rare Earth
Tuesday, March 13 "You Can't Hurry Love" The Supremes

Haley Scarnato Songs Sung
Wednesday, February 21 "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" Celine Dion
Wednesday, February 28 "Queen of the Night" Whitney Houston
Wednesday, March 7 "If My Heart Had Wings" Faith Hill
Tuesday, March 13 "Missing You" Diana Ross
Tuesday, March 20 "Tell Him" Billie Davis
Tuesday, March 27 "True Colors" Cyndi Lauper
Tuesday, April 3 "Ain't Misbehavin" Billie Holiday
Tuesday, April 10 "Turn the Beat Around" Gloria Estefan

Chris Sligh Songs Sung
Tuesday, February 20 "Typical" Mute Math
Tuesday, February 27 "Trouble" Ray LaMontagne
Tuesday, March 6 "Wanna Be Loved" Bon Jovi
Tuesday, March 13 "Endless Love" Diana Ross/Lionel Richie
Tuesday, March 20 "She's Not There" The Zombies
Tuesday, March 27 "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" The Police


Jordin Sparks Songs Sung
Wednesday, February 21 "Give Me One Reason" Tracy Chapman
Wednesday, February 28 "Reflection" Christina Aguilera
Wednesday, March 7 "Heartbreaker" Pat Benatar
Tuesday, March 13 "If We Hold on Together" The Land Before Time (movie)
Tuesday, March 20 "I Who Have Nothing" Shirley Bassey
Tuesday, March 27 "Hey Baby" No Doubt
Tuesday, April 3 "On a Clear Day" Tony Bennett
Tuesday, April 10 "The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" Gloria Estefan
Tuesday, April 17 "Broken Wing" Martina McBride
Tuesday, April 24 "You'll Never Walk Alone" Richard Rogers
Tuesday, May 1 "Livin' On a Prayer" Bon Jovi
Tuesday, May 8 "To Love Somebody" Bee Gees
"Woman In Love" Bee Gees
Tuesday May 15 "Wishing On a Star" Rose Royce
"She Works Hard for the Money" Donna Summer
"I Who Have Nothing" Shirley Bassey

Phil Stacey Songs Sung
Tuesday, February 20 "I Could Not Ask For More" Edwin McCain
Tuesday, February 27 "Missing You" John Waite
Tuesday, March 6 "I Need You" LeAnn Rimes
Tuesday, March 13 "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" Diana Ross
Tuesday, March 20 "Tobacco Road" Eric Burden
Tuesday, March 27 "Every Breath You Take" The Police
Tuesday, April 3 "Night and Day" Cole Porter/ Frank Sinatra
Tuesday, April 10 "Maria, Maria" Santana
Tuesday, April 17 "Where the Blacktop Ends" Keith Urban
Tuesday, April 24 "The Change" Garth Brooks
Tuesday, May 1 "Blaze of Glory" Bon Jovi