Celebrity Teen Idols

He’ll be returning to the “American Idol” stage tonight, but Kris Allen will be doing more than just performing- he’ll be raising awareness and funds for the earthquake victims in Haiti.

Speaking of his recent trip to the island nation, Allen told press, “It was a weird trip, because you get over there — everyone’s seen the pictures and stuff and the videos — it’s really bad. It’s a lot of destruction. A lot of people have been affected by it. But there’s a lot of stuff going on.”

Doing what he can to help, Kris Allen joined the UN Foundation in Haiti to join in on the efforts of helping clean the earthquake-devastated country.

The “American Idol” winner assisted in clearing debris from a blocked road and helped to fill water bottles while handing out food to the Haitians.

He’s always happy to put on a killer show, and last night (December 30) Kris Allen was spotted rocking out in Las Vegas.

The “American Idol” champ looked to be enjoying himself thoroughly as he took the stage at B.B. King’s Blues Club at The Mirage Resort Hotel and Casino.

During his appearance on The View last week, Adam Lambert wondered about the public's fascination with his raunchy American Music Awards performance. He asked: was it really that big of a deal?

Over the weekend, Lambert's close friend and former competitor, Kris Allen, echoed that sentiment. After all, Adam's antics didn't take him by surprise at all.

That's who he is," Allen told the media at Z100's Jingle Ball. "Obviously, he couldn't do that stuff on Idol. And so you're getting to see the real Adam now."

Asked his specific thoughts on Lambert's grinding and kissing at the infamous event, Allen replied:

"I thought it was Adam being Adam. I'm going to get a shirt that just says, 'That's Adam.'"

Regarding album sales, being Adam has worked for Lambert. His CD has sold the second most copies of any debut album this year, while Allen, unfortunately, has watched his first effort plummet down the charts.

Don't be jealous, Mrs. Kris Allen.

Your man still only has eyes for you. He just couldn't resist a photo op this week with the iconic figure of Daisy Duck.

The American Idol champion performed in front of thousands at Walt Disney World as part of that locale's Christmas Day Parade TV special, set to air Christmas Day. It will be shown on December 25 on ABC.

Allen will be joined on the special by Celine Dion, Yani, Steve Wonder and the Jonas Brothers, the latter of whom you can also see rocking out right now.

For more close-ups of Kris, click on the photos below:

Rivalry, schmivalry.

Kris Allen's debut album is currently on sale, and Adam Lambert releases his first-ever CD next week, but the former American Idol finalists are more friendly than feuding.

The singers cover the latest issue of Billboard, as Allen talks in the magazine about the process of recording songs for his album:

"When you're going to write and be in the studio, it's like, 'Now I have to think about me.' That's the mind-set you have to work with. I keep a journal, and maybe I'll take something from that - but when I'm writing a song I'll usually just be playing around on my guitar. More than anything, I just try to capture a moment."

Lambert, meanwhile is currently embroiled in a public fight with the editor of Out. He told the publication above:

“I consider myself part artist, part businessperson. I find marketing interesting, I find publicity interesting. I find the whole process interesting. I think there’s some artists that are really focused on the music and the artistry, but I also think being a showman and being an entertainer is more than just being a musician. It’s everything."

TO WATCH LAMBERT'S INTERVIEW, FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE'S JUMP.

Tending to press duties as he gears up for his debut album’s release, Adam Lambert attended US Weekly’s Hot Hollywood 2009 Party in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (November 18).

Held at Voyeur, the “American Idol” hunk was all glammed up as he mingled with fellow guests including Kris Allen and Katy O’Connell.

The Hollywood Gossip is pleased to announce its 5th Comments Contest!

This week's prize? A copy of Kris Allen, the debut album from ... Kris Allen. Leave the most comments on THG and the American Idol winner's CD is yours!

The rules of The Hollywood Gossip Comments Contest are as follows:

1. You must register and create a profile. This is easy, fun and FREE. You can fill out your profile under the "Edit My Profile" link while logged in.
2. Comment on any THG post and say whatever you want. We will count comments made on all our celebrity gossip articles, not just this one.
3. We reserve the right to disqualify users for spam comments.
4. Keep it clean ... ish. Vulgarity and profanity are discouraged.
5. Comments will be tallied between now and next Monday.

That's it! Comment away and get R♥bsessed with THG!

Kris Allen's self-titled debut album drops this week. Win a copy of it free by leaving the most comments on The Hollywood Gossip articles between now and next Monday!

He finished first on American Idol.

Therefore, Kris Allen will be the first artist from that show's eighth season to release an album; his self-titled CD will be available on November 17.

Is the singer nervous about it? A bit. But he says talking to past contestants has helped ease the pressure.

"David Cook has done his thing for a year and he's been very successful at it," Allen told E! News. "Chris Daughtry is obviously very, very successful with what he's done. They've both stayed really grounded and really cool. I've talked to them a little bit."

What did they say to the burgeoning star?

"They tell me: sleep when you can!"

Allen, of course, will always be linked to runner-up Adam Lambert.

Asked how often he keeps in touch with his former rival, Kris said: "We see each other every once in awhile and we text all the time."

So, can Allen tell us how Lambert is handling his break-up with Drake LaBry?

"He's doing good. He's obviously not completely happy about it, but I think it was just something that needed to happen."

Will you purchase Allen's self-titled debut album?

We love Adam Lambert, but the guy has to give Kris Allen a break.

First, he received more publicity than Allen after American Idol, even though the latter actually won.

Then, he set a release date for his new album (November 23) just a few days after Allen's hits stores (November 17).

Now, Lambert has the nerve to start dating Ferras Alqaisi and really steal the spotlight from Kris. For shame!

Fortunately, Kris isn't going down without a fight! Or at least a music video. Check out the official video for "Live Like We're Dying" after the jump.

We're just weeks away from the debut album from Kris Allen.

But fans don't need to wait until November 17 to listen to a few new singles by the American Idol champion.

Over the weekend, the Florida native debuted a trio of songs at a Miami Dolphins  tailgate party. The first, filmed below, is titled "Written All Over My Face."

Has this piqued your interest?

Follow the jump to watch Allen perform two more hits, each of which wil be featured on his forthcoming CD.

Kicking off a fun-filled weekend in southern Florida, Kris Allen appeared at Land Shark Stadium prior to his performance at the Miami Dolphins tailgate party on Friday (October 23).

The “American Idol” winner happily posed alongside cheerleaders as he preps to take the Dolphins’ tailgate stage on Sunday (October 25) just before the Dolphins/Saints game at 4:15PM.

Music fans are in for a three-week treat, beginning on November 17.

On that date, Kris Allen releases his debut CD. A week later, Adam Lambert does the same; and fellow American Idol finalist Allison Iraheta completes the trifecta on December 1 with her debut album.

The trio of talented young singers recently gathered for a photo shoot and interview. This time, no naked women were involved with Lambert.

Allison, Kris and Adam really do seem like they get along, however. Click on each pic below for a larger version of it...

FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE'S JUMP TO WATCH AN INTERVIEW WITH ALL THREE SINGERS.

Don't let this headline fool you: Kris Allen has not had sex with Britney Spears.

Instead, the American Idol champion has done something far cooler and far less disgusting: he performed a concert for the students of Ohio’s Seton High School because they raised $5,000 for breast-cancer research.

As part of his one-man show, Allen covered Britney's first hit, "... Baby One More Time" like only he can: with soul, passion and an acoustic guitar.

The performance was reminiscent of his incredible "Heartless" rendition during his run to the Idol crown this spring. We'll purchase Allen's debut album when it comes out on November 17 no matter what.

But wouldn't it be cool if it was filled with nothing but acoustic versions of known songs? Watch the video of Kris doing Britney below:

Which version of this single do you prefer? Britney's sexed-up pop smash? Or Allen's down-to-earth serenade?

Christmas has come early for David Archuleta fans.

First, they can purchase his latest album, Christmas From The Heart, starting today. Right now! Go! Go! We'll wait right here...

Second, the former American Idol runner-up has announced that he'll be touring this year in order to promote the CD. Let's hear more about it from the cute crooner himself:

In other American Idol news: Kris Allen releases his debut album on November 17.

Fans that are already downloading his first single off it, "Live Like We’re Dying," should be excited to check out the rumored CD cover for his self-titled debut.

View it after the jump.

Will you purchase Kris Allen's first album?

Christmas has come early for David Archuleta fans.

First, they can purchase his latest album, Christmas From The Heart, starting today. Right now! Go! Go! We'll wait right here...

Second, the former American Idol runner-up has announced that he'll be touring this year in order to promote the CD. Let's hear more about it from the cute crooner himself:

In other American Idol news: Kris Allen releases his debut album on November 17.

Fans that are already downloading his first single off it, "Live Like We’re Dying," should be excited to check out the rumored CD cover for his self-titled debut.

View it after the jump.

Will you purchase Kris Allen's first album?

Christmas has come early for David Archuleta fans.

First, they can purchase his latest album, Christmas From The Heart, starting today. Right now! Go! Go! We'll wait right here...

Second, the former American Idol runner-up has announced that he'll be touring this year in order to promote the CD. Let's hear more about it from the cute crooner himself:

In other American Idol news: Kris Allen releases his debut album on November 17.

Fans that are already downloading his first single off it, "Live Like We’re Dying," should be excited to check out the rumored CD cover for his self-titled debut.

View it after the jump.

Will you purchase Kris Allen's first album?

On November 17, Kris Allen's debut CD will go on sale.

It will go up against other newly-released albums that week from artists such as John Mayer, Shakira, and Leona Lewis. A week later, it's time for Adam Lambert to kick off his post-American Idol career.

But if Allen is afraid of the competition, he isn't showing it. Here are a few excerpts from his recent interview with Entertainment Weekly:

On album collaborators: I worked with Kevin Rudolf the last couple days. Me and Joe King [from The Fray] are getting back together and working on some stuff we already had written, which will be really cool. And I’m working with his producer [Mike Flynn] on that song, as well as one other track.

On working with Chris Daughtry: Chris is great. He reached out to me early on, during the show, I think during top-4 week. He gave me his number and was telling me if I needed anything to just give him a call. He was a really, really nice guy, and he kind of knew what I was going through, and was just kind of rooting for me. And now we have the same manager, so that makes it easy.

On the recording process: The production element of things has been surprising to me. Before this, I’ve always thought: “This song has guitar, piano, and drums in it.” And you almost kind of have to put that element of production into things to make them pop out. So that’s been fun for me, to work with that stuff, to hear it and just love it. For the most part, yes, the album is very guitar-driven and very piano-driven, but you throw in a little sound or effect, and it [enhances everything].

Will you purchase Allen's album?

We've got a double dose of American Idol talent and cuteness below.

First, David Archuleta performed "Contigo En La Distancia" at Friday night's ALMA Awards.

The former runner-up will release a Christmas album in December, as his career might be taking awhile to launch, but we still have little doubt it will be a massive success.

Said Archie of his performance: “It was my first performance on an awards ceremony, and my first time performing on TV in Spanish! I have to say I was pretty stinkin’ nervous... I’m definitely planning on doing more in Spanish, and I hope this will allow more opportunities."

Meanwhile, season eight champion Kris Allen is yet to title his debut CD, but he has announced its release date: November 17.

FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE'S JUMP TO LISTEN TO IT AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF BOTH THESE ARTISTS!

Will Kris Allen be the next Carrie Underwood or the next Taylor Hicks?

That question will be answered on November 17, as the American Idol champion releases his debut album.

No word yet on the title of the CD yet, but Allen has been collaborating with songwriters Lindy Robbins and Toby Gad on the disc. Expect it to be comprised of the same soulful rock singles that won him the competition in May.

The rumor mill has been buzzing with talk that Adam Lambert will release his first CD around the same time as his friend and rival.

We'll immediately report when everyone's favorite runner-up announces the date his album goes on sale.

Who will move more copies of his debut album?

You could almost hear the screams of NYC fans on the west coast this morning.

Indeed, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen returned to the national stage today, taking part in Good Morning America's Central Park concert series.

The American Idol finalists had more important things on their mind than the ongoing Paula Abdul status controversy: they were focused on simply rocking out!

Lambert and Allen were joined for a performance by season seven champion David Cook at one point, creating the most popular threesome since Wild Things. Check them all out together:

[Photos: Splash News]

Teaming up for quite the show, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and David Cook were busy performing live on Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series in New York City on Friday (August 7).

The “American Idol” stars took the stage at Rumsey Playfield, treating a large crowd to some tunes after hitting the Big Apple following a tour show in Washington DC.

They’re traveling the country, bringing a variety show to major cities all over, and earlier today the American Idol Tour arrived in Washington DC.

Stars like Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and the rest of the finalists from the past season of “Idol” were more than happy to stop and sign autographs for fans.

Take this, gay-hating bigots!

Just a few days after he and his fellow American Idol tour mates overcame a church-sponsored protest of their concert in San Jose, Adam Lambert led season eight's top 10 artists into L.A.'s Staples Center.

Lambert was often joined in front of the crowd by winner Kris Allen, as well as Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta and other favorites. His set of songs included:

“Whole Lotta Love, “Starlight," “Mad World,” “Slow Ride” and a medley of David Bowie singles. Below, Lambert and Allen take center stage on the tour stop:

Will you purchase the debut albums of Lambert and Allen? Each will hit stores this fall.

As you ponder those additions to your iPod, click on the following photos of these rising stars in Los Angeles:

[Photos: Getty Images]

They draw a crowd everywhere they go, and earlier today (July 17) was no exception for Adam Lambert and Kris Allen.

The Idol stars attended the American Idol Ford Giveaway at Galpin Ford in North Hills, CA and happily gave interviews while talking with their fans.

On this season's Michael Jackson night on American Idol, Kris Allen wowed viewers with an acoustic version of "Remember the Time."

In reaction, Paula Abdul said: "Kris, I truly believe no one knows Michael's catalog better than you."

Now, in an interview with Newsweek, the Idol chamopn - who started his run on the series with a rendition of "Man in the Mirror" - talks about the influence the late King of Pop had on his career.

On the first time he heard Jackson sing: I was probably 7 or 8 years old. The Dangerous album came out, and I bought it. It was a tape. It kind of stayed in my tape player forever.

On the appeal of Jackson: Every time you listen to this music you get this feeling and you always feel good. And as a kid, that's a captivating thing. His music was so easy to get lost into. I remember being 8 years old and dancing in my room to his music. Trying to dance like him, as well. It was ugly, but it was fun.

On hearing about Jackson's death: We were at rehearsal for the tour. Actually, [Adam Lambert] was on stage. He was almost done, and I was about to go up. We heard the news and we stopped everything and we canceled the rehearsal.

On his favorite Jackson song: I really, really like "Leave Me Alone." It's always been one of my favorites. But I don't know if you pick just one favorite Michael song.

Last week, readers of The Hollywood Gossip got to know Drake LaBry.

But Kris Allen, along with most of the American Idol finalists, already met Adam Lambert's boyfriend during season eight of the show. And the series champion couldn't be more excited that his friend is now open with this relationship.

"I think he's happier that he can be himself and it's nice," Allen said to People, when asked about Lambert stepping out with his LaBry last week. "Adam is who he is and he's not afraid. I support him in whatever he does."

Allen added that LaBry is "a really nice guy and that he and Lambert "click well and they're really nice together."

Meanwhile, Lambert has confirmed that the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone will reveal answers to everyone's questions about his sex life.

"At this point, I think everybody knows everything, but once the Rolling Stone article comes out, people will know everything," he said at last night's Young Hollywood Awards.

While a slew of celebrities may attend Los Angeles Lakers games on a nightly basis, how many actually take to the court and perform?

Such was the position in which Kris Allen found himself last night, as the American Idol champion performed the National Anthem prior to Game Two of the NBA Finals.

The Lakers and disloyal husband Kobe Bryant went on to take a commanding series lead with an overtime victory, but the evening's big winner was Allen. He did a great job.

Kris Allen, National Anthem

Looks like Adam Lambert isn't the only American Idol finalist to go public with a new friend this week.

Kris Allen spent May 29 at Disneyworld, serenading Minnie Mouse and putting on a performance for thousands of fans in attendance.

Regarding his victory, the season eight champion told the adoring public: “It feels good, but it hasn’t completely sunk in yet.”

From there, he played his rendition of the Kanye West song “Heartless” and was honored with a celebratory parade through the theme park. Here are pictures from the event. Click on each to enlarge...

American Idol’s Kris Allen and Adam Lambert stopped in on the Today Show yesterday in New York City to answer a few questions and more importantly perform.

Kris Allen, winner of “American Idol” season 8, sang “Heartless” and “No Boundaries”, and Adam Lambert, who took second place this season sang “Mad World.”

Both contestants laughingly denied the rumors that there was an AT&T texting scandal, and made it clear that they have remained good friends despite the competition.

Adam Lambert summed it up when he said “We’re such different artists that there is really no way to directly compete. It was really more of a competition with yourself… I’m really happy Kris won. He’s super talented and he deserves it.”

Adam Lamber and Kris Allen on NBC's The Today Show

Lambert also announced that he would not be joining Queen any time soon, but would love to sing with them again.

Like usual their performances were great and the crowd loved every second of it.  Both artists mentioned they are on tour all summer and working on their own albums, and we look forward to hearing them.

Click to see more pictures of them performing...

[Photo Credit: Splash News]

They’re still basking in the glory of their “American Idol” fame, and earlier today (May 28) Kris Allen and Adam Lambert were in the house to perform live on the “Today” show.

The Season 8 winner and runner-up both took the stage as part of the “Today” show’s Summer Concert Series at Rockefeller Plaza much to the delight of a mass of screaming fans.

Amidst growing controversy that AT&T helped to rig this season's American Idol results, the show wants to make it clear:

Kris Allen is the champion.

Earlier today Fox, Idol producers 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia issued the following statement:

"Fox and the producers of American Idol are absolutely certain that the results of this competition are fair, accurate and verified. Kris Allen is, without a doubt, the American Idol. We have an independent third-party monitoring procedure in place to ensure the integrity of the voting process. In no way did any individuals unfairly influence the outcome of the competition."

Kris Allen won American Idol. Up next? A debut album.

AT&T also defended itself:

"Last week, countless parties were held in homes, bars, and other public places across America to watch the American Idol finale. In Arkansas, a few local AT&T employees were invited to attend two local watch parties organized by the community. Caught up in the enthusiasm of rooting for their hometown contestant, they brought a small number of demo phones with them and provided texting tutorials to those who were interested.

"Going forward, we will make sure our employees understand our sponsorship celebrates the competition, not individual contestants. That said, it's quite a leap to suggest that a few individuals could have impacted the final results."

We mean no disrespect to Kris Allen or his supporters, but might the reigning American Idol champion have unfairly earned his crown?

According to a report in The New York Times, one of the show's biggest sponsors may have played a vital role in Allen's victory.

AT&T, by its own admission, provided phones for free text-messaging services at parties organized by fans of the Arkansas native.

At a pair of gatherings in Allen's honor - held during, and immediately following, last week's Tuesday night performance show - representatives of AT&T (whose network is the only one that can be used to cast American Idol votes via text message) passed around free phones.

No such efforts were made on behalf of Adam Lambert.

No one doubts Kris Allen's talent. But questions are being raised about the fairness of his American Idol victory.

Moreover, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette states that AT&T employees actually instructed Allen fans on how to send 10 or more text messages at the press of a single button.

In a statement issued yesterday, a spokesman for AT&T didn't deny these accusations:

“In Arkansas, we were invited to attend the local watch parties organized by the community. A few local employees brought a small number of demo phones with them and provided texting tutorials to those who were interested."

Interestingly, Fox has refused to release the voting percentages or figures from this season.

Why would AT&T possibly favor Allen over Lambert? Might the company prefer a clean-cut, uncontroversial champion of a show it sponsors? We don't know.

But this rumor won't quiet critics that believe Lambert lost due to his sexual orientation.

Will Adam Lambert actually join the classic rock band Queen?

That debate will need to be put on hold for a couple months, as the runner-up and his fellow American Idol finalists get set to embark on a nationwide tour this summer.

For now, fans wanna know what sort of album Lambert will eventually come out with.

“Labels tend to try to put one box around every artist and keep them in one genre, but I think [my album] can be a collection of different styles,” Lambert told reporters. “I don’t want to do one specific genre. I’m more about fusion. There are a lot of pop artists that are using the ‘glam’ kind of vibe in their music currently so I think I’m actually part of a wave. There just happens to not be many guys doing it right now.”

As for Kris Allen:

“‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ - that’s the kind of stuff I want to do, stuff that has that feel, that kind of moves people," he said. “I’m not a man of many words. I’m not very expressive or emotional but it comes out in my music. It’s the way I express how I feel.”

Will you buy either of these albums? Both? Neither?

We've already established that Kris Allen is a nice guy.

As fans are finding out, he's also a loving one.

Ever since his American Idol victory, Allen has been giving praise to his wife, Katy. Such talk continued today during the champion's visit with Ellen DeGeneres.

"My wife has been the [best] support ever," Allen said to the talk show host, during the taping of a show that will air Tuesday. "I seriously almost gave up a lot, and she was just like, 'You have to keep going.' She believed in me more than I believed in myself."

Would Kris Allen have won American Idol without the love of wife Katy? No, the singer says.

As much as any other American Idol fan displeased with this season's outcome, we thought Adam Lambert should have been crowned champion.

But our effusive praise of the unique singer was never meant to disparage winner Kris Allen.

In fact, ever since his victory, Allen has been nothing short of grateful, humble and extremely appealing every time we hear him speak.

First, upon winning, Kris immediately said Lambert deserved the crown. Now, take a look at the American Idol during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

How can anyone not adore this laid back Arkansas native?!?

Kris Allen on Leno

Kris Allen is your new American Idol.

Left speechless when Ryan Seacrest initially asked him how it felt, Allen continued to express utter consternation backstage.

"I felt shocked almost every week that I made it, and to be the American Idol, I’m completely shocked."

The champion also had nothing but kind words for fellow finalist Adam Lambert: "I feel like he deserves this just as much as I do. He’s an amazing performer, gifted guy and really just an amazing guy. It was fun doing this with him."

Where will Kris go from here, in terms of making an album?

"I think it’s pretty obvious that I’ve done a lot of the singer-songwriter, pop-rock kind of thing and that’s something I want to do."

Do you think Kris Allen is a worthy champion?

Lambert, meanwhile, isn't about to shed any tears over his second place finish.

"I felt so good. I got to sing with Queen and KISS!" he told OK!, reflecting on the two-hour finale. "First or second, it doesn’t matter to me; I got to sing with two great, heroic rock bands."

The flamboyant rocker also sung the praises of his friend and rival:

"I think Kris is incredibly talented and he’s a good person, so to me it was like, we know it’s going to be close; whatever happens, happens. We’ve made it this far, got to do a really cool finale and we’re both going to get to do great things now in the future."

But, it had to be asked, does Adam think the combination of his sexuality and Allen's Christianity played a role in the outcome?

"The blogs have a lot of opinions, don’t they? I think Kris won because he’s a great artist and I was happy to be runner-up to that."

Amen. Let's just admire these two finalists for what they are: great musicians and people.

Click on the photos below to enlarge various photos from the American Idol finale:

Although Adam Lambert might not have left “American Idol” as the big winner, he certainly didn’t leave as a loser after singing with huge stars on stage.

“I felt so good. I got to sing with Queen and KISS! First or second, it doesn’t matter to me; I got to sing with two great heroic rock bands,” Lambert told press.

It was truly a night to remember as “American Idol” wrapped up Season 8 with a plethora of amazing performances before announcing Kris Allen as the big winner.

And of course when it came time for him to give an acceptance speech, Allen struggled to find words.  “Adam deserves this. I’m sorry, I don’t even know what to feel right now. This is crazy!”

From handsome also-ran to American Idol champion.

Kris Allen completed an incredible journey this week by being named the eighth-ever winner of the most popular show on television.

Overlooked when the competition began - at the outset, Simon Cowell even suggested that Allen should keep his marriage a secret because he would only advance based on his looks - Allen shed his underdog label and overcame Adam Lambert in a tightly-contested finale.

What was Allen's reaction upon winning? He said: "Adam deserves this. I'm sorry." Class act (and we agree!).

Will Kris follow in the successful footsteps of past victors such as Carrie Underwood? Or the anonymous footsteps of champs such as Reuben Studdard?

Only time will tell. For now, let's just wish a hearty congratulations to one of the most unexpected winners in show history!

Did Kris Allen deserve to be named the American Idol winner? Answer the poll and then leave a comment. Let us know!

Take a look back at Allen's American Idol journey. Click on the following photos to enlarge images of the champion:

Two finalists. Three songs each. One final night of performances.

American Idol will crown its eighth champion tonight. But, first, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen each had a few chances to leave viewers with a winning impression. Let's review each finalist's renditions from last night...

ROUND ONE: We start with the contestant's choice, as both Lambert and Allen brought back classics from earlier this season.

Lambert chose the Tears for Fears song "Mad World," making a fog-filled entrance and donning a long, black overcoat. Once again, the performance showcased this singer's sultry voice and unparalleled range. It earned an "A-plus for Adam" from Randy.

Allen, meanwhile, played to his strength. Seated behind a piano, he went with "Ain't No Sunshine." Simon appeared to favor this routine over that of Lambert, while Kara gushed over how well Kris connected with the audience.
EDGE: Even.

Which opening performance did you prefer on the American Idol finale?

ROUND TWO: Time for American Idol creator Simon Fuller to play a role. He chose the songs for this round.

Kara wasn't shy about deeming Lambert's rendition of Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" as his best performance of the season. We wouldn't go that far, but the crooner held himself back from changing the arrangement too much, or overly relying on his patented screams. A great showcase for his versatility.

Here's where Kris lost ground to Adam. Strumming his guitar to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On," Allen didn't put on a finale-worthy performance. We agreed with Simon and Randy assessment: it was fine and all, but not memorable enough, given the circumstances.
EDGE: Lambert.

Which round two performance did you prefer on the American Idol finale?

ROUND THREE: Both contestants were stuck singing the cheesy Kara DioGuardi-penned winner's single, "No Boundaries."

Due to his incredible range, Lambert was at least able to de-cheese the song a bit. (Still, climbing mountains? Taking breaths? Really, Kara?!?) We could even see this single having a rock feel to it, assuming Adam gets to be the one to release it after tonight's victory.

For Kris, it was simply too much. His voice strained to keep up, as each of the judges focused on Allen's overall Idol run during their comments, making it clear they didn't love this rendition.
EDGE: Lambert.

Following the finale, who do you think will win American Idol?

Adam Lambert and Kris Allen take on each other in tonight's American Idol finale.

The day before this monumental showdown, however, the pair of finalists faced the media together. Here's a summary of the responses they gave a series of journalists outside Hollywood's Nokia Theatre...

Kris, on being nervous: “I don’t feel too much pressure right now. We’ve made it. I feel like we’ve accomplished exactly what we wanted to accomplish, and we’re going to go out there and have a good show. It’s going to be a lot of fun.” 

Adam, on comparisons to Kris: “We’re just very different types of artists, and at this point, it’s not about out singing each other. It’s not like a direct competition. It’s about both of us staying really true to what we do.”

FRIENDS & FOES: American Idol comes down to Adam Lambert vs. Kris Allen. Who do you want to win?

Adam, on his theater experience: “This isn’t theater, so I don’t really see how it affects it at all. I’ve had experience on stage performing, but so has Kris... just in different venues. Kris has worked clubs and worked with a band... The thing that’s really cool about this competition is that it’s an equal opportunity situation.”

Kris, on if his Christian background will lead to votes: “I hope that having the Christian vote does not help with anything. I hope it has to do with your talent and the performance that you give and the package that you have, and it’s not about religion and all that kind of stuff.”

Sorry, Danny Gokey fans.

Our apologies to Alison Iraheta supporters.

While your favorites came close, only two finalists remain, as American Idol heads into its final week: Adam Lambert and Kris Allen.

One is a theatrical, flamboyant crooner; the other is a serene, acoustic guitar specialist. Which will come out on top? You tell us!

Who will win American Idol?

As Adam Lambert has been singing his socks off, and his heart out, for weeks on American Idol, our staff has been singing the praises of this unique contestant.

The season eight title is clearly his to lose. But should it be?

Having already graced the cover of Entertainment Weekly, and made headlines around the country, Lambert has already won Idol. He will get a recording contract, he will top the charts for years to come and his musical dreams will come true.

Considering his talent and popularity, these goals will undoubtedly be accomplished, regardless of whether or not Adam takes home the crown Wednesday night.

Heck, one could argue that NOT being named American Idol will open Lambert up for the kind of versatile career he appears to be striving for.

Remember Chris Daughtry? He's often said his early elimination from season five allowed for a certain artistic freedom; he could instantly embark on a rock album, without the constraints often in place on American Idol champions (whose first single, in most cases, is the cheesy ballad they sing on each season's finale).

It's not hard to imagine Lambert actually benefiting, in the same way as Daughtry, from falling just short of victory.

But Kris Allen needs that crown. Kris Allen has worked hard for that crown. Kris Allen deserves a long, successful career, one likely not possible without that crown.

Allen is an incredibly talented artist, but he doesn't stand out like Lambert.

He's flown under the Idol radar all season, finally receiving true, overwhelming recognition last week for his cover of Kanye West's "Heartless," an especially brave performance considering Kanye himself performed the same single on the same stage just a few months ago.

Adam Lambert and Kris Allen left Danny Gokey behind in the semifinals. The competition is down to two!

Could Kris have a John Mayer or Jack Johnson-like career, even if he comes in second? Of course. He reminds us of those guitar-playing singer/songwriters, mostly due to his style and musical arrangements, though the fact that he's easy on the eyes doesn't hurt.

Still, contrary to his attention-grabbing competition, Allen would really benefit from the American Idol title.

It would separate him from other aspiring artists in his genre; not merely because he won the most popular competition on television, but because he pulled off the greatest finale upset in the show's history to do it.

Will this victory take place? It's highly unlikely. And we certainly won't shed any tears when Lambert is named the winner. He's a great performer and talent.

But here's one vote for Kris Allen. It's our way of hoping season eight produces two champions.

Wow.

We'll publish a detailed recap of the final three performance show on American Idol tomorrow, but we couldn't wait another second to shower praise on one of tonight's performances.

And it wasn't given by Adam Lambert for a change!

Kris Allen delivered the goods - and then some! - with an acoustic rendition of "Heartless." Sorry, Gokeheads. But next week's finale has to come down to Allen vs. Lambert.

Watch Allen's rendition of "Heartless" below and share your thoughts in the Comments section:

Kris Allen, Heartless

It's an American Idol tradition, on par with receiving criticism from Simon Cowell and smiling through Paula Abdul's jibberish.

Each year, the show's finalists attend BritWeek, an event created by producer Nigel Lythgoe. The event celebrates the link between Great Britain and the Los Angeles area.

At the 2009 edition, Adam Lambert and company got into the spirit of the occasion, posing for pictures and boogieing the night away with an Austin Powers impersonator...

Click on the photos above to enlarge images of American Idol's final five finalists at BritWeek.

Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen are officially household names.

This trio of aspiring singers were named to the finals on season eight of American Idol last week. Let's get to know each crooner a bit better.

Here are excerpts of the interviews they gave to TV Guide, following the announcement that each had been voted through to the final 12:

Allison Iraheta on...

... her hair color: "I wish [I was a natural redhead] — that'd be great, because then I wouldn't have to be worrying about dying the roots every five weeks. But no, my natural hair color is black."

... Simon Cowell's critique of her: "He doesn't know me. He says I'm boring, but honestly I'm not. I'll just chill a little bit more because the nerves got to me a little [this week]."

Adam Lambert on...

... his fashion taste: "Of course I upped the fashion [for this week], put on something a little dressier, a little funkier. Up to this point, it's been my own [fashion] eye."

... Simon Cowell's critique of him: "I take [Simon's] 'theatrical' comment as a compliment as opposed to a derogatory statement. A lot of the big [pop] artists are going the theatrical route. It's time for something like that."

Kris Allen on...

... a theme he'd love: "Doing The Beatles would be so amazing. I feel like you can do a lot with their songs. That would be the coolest thing ever."

... singing a Michael Jackson song last week: "I decided on ["Man in the Mirror"] a while back, so it was a little scary. But I was really confident in what I was dong. I was just happy I didn't get any compared to him."

One-half of season eight's American Idol finalists have now been named.

Following a dismal round of auditions on Wednesday, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta received the most votes from viewers and advanced to the final round of 12.

Click on the pics above for enlarged images of the latest American Idol finalists.

The trio will join 28-year-old church music director Danny Gokey from Milwaukee, 21-year-old musician Alexis Grace from Memphis and 27-year-old oil rig worker Michael Sarver from Texas, who were selected as the first three finalists last week.

On Tuesday, a dozen more semifinalists will vie for three spots in the competition's top 12.

Following that series of auditions, the judges will pick the last three finalists after a unique wild card round. It may sound complicated, but it just means one thing:

It's not too late for Anoop Desai to advance!

We'll find out for certain on Wednesday, but all American Idol spoilers thus far point to Kris Allen as one of season eight's final 36 contestants.

This college student auditioned for the show in Louisville, Kentucky, receiving anonymous approval from all four judges to move on to Hollywood.

Unfortunately, Kris Allen was only briefly featured during this round of try outs - as you can see below - but don't worry. We'll be hearing a lot more from him over the next few weeks...

Kris Allen Audition