JUSIPER

 
Congratulations to Fantasia Barrino

Posted by Sini

The brilliant interpretive singer is the new American Idol. In a season marked by incomprehensible voting that led to the ouster of monster talents like Jennifer Hudson, America in the end did the inconceivable: it chose the best vocalist, and the only true artist the show has ever produced.

The 19-year-old single mother from Highpoint, N.C., edged out Diana DeGarmo when results were announced tonight (May 26) during the live two-hour season finale of the Fox reality show/talent contest.

When the announcement was made at the end of the show, Barrino immediately grabbed DeGarmo in a hug and cried. When asked for her reaction by Seacrest, a still sobbing Barrino said, "I always say, 'I've been through some things but I worked hard to get where I'm at.'"

More than 65 million votes were cast during the four-hour window opened after last night's final performance show aired on the East and West Coasts, according to host Ryan Seacrest. Previous "Idol" voting periods have been restricted to two hours. In another move to accommodate more access to voting, three designated phone numbers were assigned to each contestants to capture votes.

I close with a few words from Shonda at IdolRant, who, along with Sandie, has been covering the show for months now:

I've said it before: American Idol is nothing more than a better, smarter, brighter version of The Miss America Pageant. In the end, someone wears the crown, the confetti falls and we all cry. What's the big deal?

The big deal is it was good.

It was great TV.

It was almost mythic.

It was poor teen single mom overcomes all obstacles to make it to the top of a heap that was 70,000 strong. It was the little girl from North Carolina taking over the world. It was FANTASTIC.

I've watched the end at least six times now and every single time I am struck with one absolute truth: that girl is a HUGE STAR. You wanna watch her. You can't help but watch her. You can't help but watch and want to dance.

America got it right. My faith in humanity is restored.

Large lips. Weave-bangs. The Bo-Bo. Ghetto Earrings.

All is right with the world.

12:55 AM |