It was inevitable. Twenty-nine-year-old salt and pepper haired Alabama soul singer Taylor Hicks stole the audiences' heart and the
American Idol crown on Wednesday, beating talented and sexy Californian singer Katharine McPhee in a tight contest. “Thank you America! I'm living the American Dream,” he said in between wide smiles and loud cheers after being crowned the newest
Idol.
The Birmingham resident, who was told he looked too old to be a pop star, outshined the 22-year-old California lass during the Tuesday episode. A day later, he was announced the winner at the Hollywood's Kodak Theater, which saw guest performances by the likes of Toni Braxton, Prince, Mary J Blige, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, and Meat Loaf.
Lauding Hicks, McPhee said he had 'something' that spelt winner. “He definitely knows how to get a crowd going, and that was something I knew he had from the very beginning. There's something very exciting about him when he performs, and he's kinda got the American dream story. He's like the guy who sung in a bar and has gray hair and he's 29, but he looks like he's 39. It's somebody you wouldn't think would be an
American Idol— and then he suddenly gets to win and he's got a huge career in front of him,” said the daughter of a vocal coach.
Asked what his plans were next, Hicks said he first wants to thank his 'Soul Patrol' fans for giving him a shot at life and the big league. Next would be a 'really good' music album. “I'm heading to the studio as quickly as I can. But I'll take a few days off to clear my head,” the winner said.
And what would his new album be like? “An album with soul. It's gonna have a lot of feeling. I'm an instrumentalist as well as vocalist, and I'm going to play harmonica and guitar on it. It's just going to have to be a really good representation of who I am as an artist,” Hicks said.
This season of
American Idol was probably the best Fox had to offer. Not only did audiences get a chance to see some of the most talented contestants, including Paris Bennett, Elliott Yamin and Chris Daughtry, but they also saw music greats like Stevie Wonder and Rod Stewart offer tips on what works and what doesn't.
What worked for Hicks was not only his prowess with the harmonica and his dancing skills but also the fact that he was the underdog. Next and very soon, the singer will launch his first single.
