Sparks fly for American Idol
- posted: 05 June 2007
- scrollarts@byui.edu
After 74 million votes were cast, America has decided on its next American Idol: Jordin Sparks.
This year the two finalists were Blake Lewis, 25, from Seattle, Wash. and Jordin Sparks, 17, from Glendale, Ariz.
During the two–hour finale, broadcasted from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, each finalist performed songs including a beat boxing showdown between Lewis and Doug E. Fresh.
Sparks sang a duet of the Motown classic “You’re All I Need to Get By” with season-two winner Ruben Studdard. There were also live performances by stars including Tony Bennett, Gladys Knight and an African children’s choir.
Sparks, earned the renowned title of American Idol and will be signing a record deal later this year.
In an interview with People magazine regarding her first album, Sparks said, “I might be getting some material during the Idols Live tour and then I guess right after [the tour] I’ll start working on that.”
Sparks is the youngest person to win the title of American Idol. Sparks is a junior in high school and worked on homework three hours per day during the American Idol season. She confirmed in her interview that she will complete high school but is unaware of what the future has in store for her.
Previous winners of American Idol include Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrion, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks.
American Idol became a success in the summer of 2002. It was a British hit that came to the U.S., and last year, millions of viewers tuned in to see which finalists would win, making American Idol number one in America.
Broadcast on the Fox network, it is hosted by Ryan Seacrest and judged by Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.
American Idol seeks to find the next star of America by traveling state to–state–to hold singing auditions for all who want a shot.
At the auditions Abdul, Cowell and Jackson are the ones to impress. If a contestant can get past them, the next judge is America.
“Its a really fun reality TV show. The audience is involved in the show by watching and voting. I like watching average people on TV” said Michelle Wood, a junior
from Rexburg. 
