Idol Runner-Up Adam Lambert: Sexual Orientation Speculation "Probably" Cost Me Votes

• May 22, 2009 02:31 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Adam Lambert

Nearly until the very end, Adam Lambert was the far-and-away front runner to win American Idol. But when the final batch of votes was tallied, it was the comparatively wholesome Kris Allen who instead walked off with the Season 8 crown. 

Does Lambert suspect that ongoing — and yet never confirmed — speculation about his sexual orientation ultimately cost him the lead? Get his answer after the jump. read more

Kris Allen: The Road from Underdog to Idol

• May 21, 2009 06:09 PM ET
• by Adam Bryant

Adam Lambert, Kris Allen

"You know, there are probably people who are better than me," said Kris Allen when the American Idol judges asked him if he was the best singer in the country during his Louisville, Ky., audition. And though the humble boy next door has now been named the best singer in the country — by Idol voters, at least — he hasn't really changed his tune.

"Adam deserved this. I'm sorry," Allen said, just seconds after Ryan Seacrest named him the eighth American Idol. It was a major upset in a voting pool of nearly 100 million votes. Allen's shock over having bested season-long frontrunner Adam Lambert was completely genuine, and it was nothing new. We saw that same look when he made it into the Top 3.

"I'm always surprised, man," Allen told Entertainment Weekly. "For me, making it through each week — everyone is so talented, and, I don't know, to make it through each week is crazy."

So how did this guy who viewers barely even glimpsed before it was down to 36 come out on top? "That's kinda who I am ... read more

Police Arrest Woman Outside American Idol Venue

• May 21, 2009 12:38 PM ET
• by Adam Bryant

Terri Seymour, Simon Cowell

A woman was arrested outside the filming of the American Idol finale for attacking Simon Cowell's ex-girlfriend, police said.

Police said Janice Thibodeaux was taken into custody outside the Nokia Theater after officers saw her try to choke Terri Seymour, who was working as an Extra correspondent, according to The Hollywood Reporter. After the filming, Thibodeaux asked Seymour if she was Cowell's ex before trying to choke her, and then ran from officers, police said.

Thibodeaux told RadarOnline.com she was ... read more

Poll: TVGuide.com Readers Say Kris Allen Could Pull Upset

• May 20, 2009 04:24 PM ET
• by Adam Bryant

Kris Allen, American Idol

Season 8 of American Idol has been Adam Lambert's to lose since Day 1, but a majority of TVGuide.com readers are calling for an upset.

Based on Tuesday's final performance show, 53 percent of voters picked Kris Allen as the singer they believe will receive the confetti shower at the Nokia Theater Wednesday.

While that margin arguably makes the race still too close to call, before the final two performed, Adam had a dominating 63 percent of our voters' support. Did Kris perhaps inherit some of third-place finisher Danny Gokey's fan club, or did his final performances help him overcome the gap?

In any case, this could go down as the closest finale since Season 2's Ruben Studdard-Clay Aiken neck-and-neck showdown. 

What say you, Glambert fans? Has Adam still got this in the bag, or are you worried that the boy next door may play spoiler to guylined victory parties everywhere?

Analyzing Idol's Top 2: Was Kris Able to Close the Gap?

• May 20, 2009 10:51 AM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, Kimberly Caldwell inset

During these final weeks of American Idol, as each sing-off signed off, TVGuide.com has checked in with TV Guide Network hosts/Idol alums Kimberly Caldwell and Justin Guarini to get their particularly qualified takes on who soared, who stumbled, and which judges' review most rang true.

For this final week, Caldwell weighs in on finalists Adam Lambert and Kris Allen and whether this season could turn out to deliver one of the closest votes ever.

TVGuide.com: Kris chose to sing second; what's the strategy there — don't let Adam's "wow" factor linger in the air?
Kimberly Caldwell: I think it was a great strategy because the last person to perform on the show is normally the one that really sticks in your head! Also, if some... read more

Kara DioGuardi Poses for "Divine" PETA Ad

• May 19, 2009 05:06 PM ET
• by Joyce Eng

Kara DioGuardi

Kara DioGuardi hopes to be an idol — or better yet, an angel — for dogs.

The American Idol judge is the newest face of PETA's Angels for Animals campaign. She posed with ...
read more

American Idol: Where Are They Now?

• May 19, 2009 03:53 PM ET
• by Gina DiNunno

Ruben Studdard, Elliott Yamin, Fantasia Barrino

It's America Idol's big finale week, but before the audience chooses between Adam Lambert and Kris Allen, find out what past winners and finalists have been up to since living in the Idol bubble.

Bo Bice Talks "Ego Inside," Idol Days and More

• May 18, 2009 05:38 PM ET
• by Anna Dimond

Bo Bice, Carrie Underwood

Bo Bice is a busy man. In the four years since his run on American Idol (in which he was the runner-up, behind Carrie Underwood), the Southern rocker has overcome health issues, has had a second child, built a recording studio in his Nashville home, performed for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq multiple times and appeared on American Idol Rewind. TVGuide.com caught up with him to find out how he views the Idol experience, what he thinks of his competition — and what advice he'd give to newly minted alums. 

David Cook, Keith Urban and More Set for Idol Finale

• May 18, 2009 01:33 PM ET
• by Joyce Eng

David Cook, Keith Urban

David Cook will be on hand to pass his crown to either Adam Lambert or Kris Allen on American Idol's finale.

The Season 7 champ is one of the eight performers scheduled to appear on the show, Ryan Seacrest announced on Twitter. Joining Cook at the Nokia Theater will be ... read more

Paula Abdul Uncertain About Idol Future, Mulls Dancing

• May 18, 2009 12:12 PM ET
• by Joyce Eng

Paula Abdul

Did Simon Cowell speak too soon? Though the acid-tongue Brit says all four American Idol judges will "absolutely" return next season, Paula Abdul remains uncertain.

"I don't know [if I'll come back]," Abdul tells WAPE radio. "I love my job. I've been invited for ...
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