by Gina Scarpa

 

This week, on the season finale of American Idol, 24 million people tuned in to watch Lee Dewyze be named the winner over runner up Crystal Bowersox. Over 47 million votes were cast and there was only a 2% difference between Lee and Crystal. It was clear all season that it could have gone either way but Crystal handled the loss graciously, seeming genuinely happy for Lee. Following the finale, the two spoke to reporters in press conference calls about the final result, the albums they want to make, and whether or not they'd ever date!

 

Q. What do you feel America saw in you and kept viewers voting?
A. Lee: In the beginning, I was more reserved. But I'm a real guy, off the camera and on. I wanted the show to be about me and about my music. And I think that people saw that I can connect with an audience. I know what it's like to be starting out and having a goal and trying to reach it. I connected with every song the best I could and the audience.

 

Q. This season, they were predicting a female winner pretty early on. Did you see gender as playing a role in the voting?
A. Crystal: I don't. American Idol is a competition that's set up a certain way and it's for the public to decide. There's no way that they could have predicted a female winner that early. I love Lee. I'd buy his album in a heartbeat. So whatever happened, happened for a reason and I'm extremely happy for him.

 

Q. Did you get to have a drink with Simon at the afterparty?
A. Lee: We toasted and congratulated. And he said he was excited for me. We got to spend a little time together and talk. That was a big moment for me.

 

Q. What was it like to listen to Ryan drag out the announcement?
A. Crystal: While we were waiting, I did mouth the words, "Come on, Ryan" several times. When I saw the look on Lee's face, like he was going to pass out, I felt everything he was feeling. I saw his confetti and thought it was mine, too.

 

Q. We've seen so much change over the season. At one point, you said that your boyfriend would "man up" and marry you after the season. How did the breakup surprise and affect you?
A. Crystal: Tony's been my rock through all of this. He's been there for me and he's been amazing. I have a lot of love and respect for him. He's a small town guy and he wants the small town quiet life. He wants to stay out of the spotlight and I respect that. But this is my career and I want to do the right thing by my son and my family.

 

Q. Any chance of you and Lee dating?
A. Crystal: Oh, no. He's like a brother to me. I love Lee dearly, but not in that way.

 

Q. Your first single is a cover of U2's "Beautiful Day". How did you choose it?
A. Lee: I like that song a lot. It's a good song. It's not really my genre, no, but there were songs on the table, and I went with the one I thought represented me the best. I don't know the reasoning behind which songs you get to pick. I don't know all the ups and downs of the behind-the-scenes stuff. A big part of the game is to play by the rules. If it was up to me, I would have had longer songs and really get into the songs, rather than just "Ready! Go!" But accepting is the hard part.

 

Q. Your song, "Holy Toledo" is the first original song ever played during an Idol episode. How do you feel?
A. Crystal: That's completely true. That song is very dear to my heart. I wrote it when I was 17, and I was moving to Chicago. I was sitting on a friend's front steps. I was at a point in my life where, and I love my hometown, but I knew I was ready for something bigger and needed hope. It's become an anthem for my city and what kind of hope is needed there. I can't believe that the show even considered letting me play it. And they've agreed to allow me to play it on the tour in my hometown.

 

Q. What kind of album do you want to make?
A. Crystal: My influences are straightforward but I have my own style. My songwriting is, I don't know how different it is, but it's simple and straightforward. They're songs that people can enjoy. And I write from my own experience.
A. Lee: I want it to be something I'm happy with. I'd like to have a folk/rock kind of alternative vibe to it. I want it to be earthy but still reach out to a lot of different people. I've expressed that to the people in charge. They're for it. It's a good relationship, working with 19 Entertainment and those guys, they're a great group of people. They want you to do what you're best at and proud and confident of. We have a lot more things to talk about. But I want to make it new.

 

Q. Any closing remarks?
A. Lee: I'm very appreciative of American Idol. I want to thank my fans that voted. Thanks to the show and to my friends and my family. The production staff at Idol and 19. I want to thank all the people that I've met. And I want to thank Crystal. It could have been either of us. She's an amazing person and an amazing mom. I want to thank all the other contestants on the show, I'm friends with all of them. I hope the best for all of them.
A. Crystal: Thank you to Idol for everything. Thanks to Lee for being a great friend through all of this. And thanks to everybody for their support.

 

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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