Jordin Sparks - New "American Idol"

The American Idol Season 6 closed its curtains with the coronation of Jordin Sparks, a 17-year-old diva from Arizona. Jordin won the sixth season’s title defeating Blake Lewis in the finale of the grand show.

The daughter of former Dallas Cowboys left cornerback Phillippi Sparks, 17-year old Jordin Sparks who was the youngest female to make it to the Top 24 in American Idol, season 6 won the American Idol.

A denizen of Glendale, Arizona and the winner of “Arizona Idol,” she auditioned for the reality show in Seattle and swept the admiration of the judges with her powerful singing voice. She had an early start in singing, already showing her talent at the very young age of 18 months.

The result of the show was announced 10 minutes after the stipulated two hour run by the show’s host Ryan Seacrest, but the thrill of the results was blaringly missing from the act. Both the contestants more or less knew as much of the final outcome as the audience across the country.

The run up to the hold-all of the result was more of a wait filled with fake awards and celebrity songs. The show started with a duet of Blake and Jordin of the famous Beatle’s song "I Saw Her Standing There," with the never ending emphasis on publicizing Jordin’s young age.

"Thank you so much for everything," she said after hugging runner-up Blake Lewis of Bothell, Wash.

Judges Randy Johnson and Simon Cowell also preferred Sparks, while Paula Abdul said both were winners. A record 74 million votes were cast after Tuesday's competition round, Ryan said.

Another showdown was that of a ballad beamed live from a Gwen Stefani concert. The expected crowning of Jordin was marked by the first Idol performance of the season-one winner Kelly Clarkson, who belted out a very Pat Benatar-like rendition of her hit "Never Again".

The hallmark of the show definitely was not the nervous look the winner or the steamed up excitement in the air that was being tried to build up, while Sanjaya and Carrie Underwood still were the heart-throb’s for the audience.

Jordin on the other hand got her share of the spotlight when she sang a powerful duet of the Motown classic "You're All I Need to Get By" with season-two winner Ruben Studdard. Overall the sixth season ended with what was expected and few surprises or ‘shocks’ to throw.

The evening raised a world social issue. Green Day performed John Lennon's hit "Working Class Hero" from "Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur," an effort to raise awareness and seek ways to end violence in the African country.

With Inputs from United Press International.