Making for quite the surprise ending, Lee DeWyze was crowned as the winner of the ninth season of "American Idol".
With the results show taking place on Wednesday night (May 26), the 24-year-old Illinois native topped Ohioan Crystal Bowersox during a two-hour special.
While most had pegged Miss Bowersox as a shoe-in for the top honors, DeWyze became overwhelmed upon hearing show host Ryan Seacrest announce him as the hit FOX show's top choice.
Proceeding on, Lee thanked his family, friends and avid voting fanbase before graciously complimenting his competitor, Crystal.
Predicting the win, Lee's longtime friend Brian Friedopfer previously told MTV News, "He's going to win. The Nokia [Theatre] is a different element for both the constants and the judges. Lee may have been a little nervous, considering the theater was filled with 7,000 people, but the judges didn't hear what they think they did. I guarantee that if and when they watch it back, they'll realize Lee did a fantastic job with the songs that were given to him, and America knows it. Lee DeWyze will be crowned the next American Idol tonight."
