In a duel between Davids, David Cook defeated David Archuleta last night to become the seventh American Idol champion.
Soon after Ryan Seacrest made the announcment and confetti reigned on stage, Cook broke down in tears. Congratulations, David.
David Cook reacts to being named this season's American Idol champion.
While it may have been difficult to keep track of all the performances on American Idol last night - the three remaining contestants sang three songs each, good for a total of nine - it wasn't difficult to determine our favorite of the evening:
David Cook chose Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" and ended the night on a very high note. We hope he's still standing tall after next week's final.
Here's a video of Cook from last night:
Was Cook your favorite of the night? What did you think of David Archuleta and Syesha Mercado?
According to OK!, David Cook has more to celebrate than just an incredible run on American Idol.
That tabloid's sources say the talented rocker is dating another reality TV stalwart: Lacey Schwimmer, who finished in the top four So You Think You Can Dance last season.
The insider claims Schwimmer is "falling hard" for the rocker. She has been in the audience at the American Idol tapings for the last two weeks, even describing Cook's feelings on his brother being in attendance for last night's show:
"His brother came to town a few days ago, and he's not in the best of shape and you can tell it's affecting David and everything," Schwimmer said to People Magazine. "But I think it's a good thing that he's here because it shows that his brother is still supporting him."
So, You Think You Can Date? David Cook and Lacey Schwimmer supposedly do.
The pair met two weeks ago during rehearsals for the Idol Gives Back special.
"Lacey met David during rehearsals and they had an intense chemistry immediately! They were totally flirting and she was joking with him saying, 'Don't make your heart rate go up too high.' They have the same sense of humor," OK!'s source added.
With his ailing brother looking on from the front row, David Cook turned Mariah Carey night into a personal celebration last night. Perhaps even a coronation.
After delivering an incredible version of "Always Be My Baby," Cook soaked up the cheers, which included a rare standing ovation from Randy Jackson. As Ryan Seacrest then pointed out, the talented finalist had tears in his eyes - and who could blame him?
David's brother, Adam, was in attendance for the first time all season. Adam is currently undergoing treatment for brain cancer.
During a commercial break, David walked down to hug his brother in his seat. All three judges did the same.
"His brother came to town a few days ago, and he's not in the best of shape and you can tell it's affecting David and everything," says dancer Lacey Schwimmer, of So You Think You Can Dance, who has stepped out with David recently. "But I think it's a good thing that he's here because it shows that his brother is still supporting him."
Our thoughts, prayers - and congratulations on an amazing performance - go out to the Cook family.
As impressive as David Cook has been on American Idol, the fact that he's been able to perform at such a high level is even more amazing given the sad state of a family member:
David's older brother Adam Cook is battling cancer. The American Idol finalist hasn't spoken about the illness, out of respect for his brother. He also didn't want to sympathy votes.
Cook isn't the first Idol to compete while dealing with a personal crisis, as People Magazine reports.
"The week before we came up for the Top 24, my best friend passed away, and I was just like, 'I don't know if I can go out there,'" last year's champ Jordin Sparks said. "I went to the funeral and came back and then my uncle passed away â" and then my grandma ... and so I had three deaths go on during the show.
"It's hard because you have to go out there and put this smile on your face," she added. "It's very exhausting, and it's very overwhelming and kind of gets to you. I mean I got sick a couple times, just because I was so tired and kept trying to do all this stuff and it was crazy."
We'd like to wish the best to David Cook and his brother.
We were all set to praise David Cook's performance last night, but first we need to report on the fact that the American Idol favorite was actually hospitalized after his Dolly Parton rendition.
He felt heart palpitations and was treated for high blood pressure. Fortunately, Cook was released back to the American Idol apartments where he was "doing fine," a source confirms.
As for his pre-hospital singing: Cook once again impressed the judges with a stylish version of Parton's "Little Sparrow." He looked healthy during the performance and we wish David Cook a full recovery.
We already know that David Cook can sing, but did you also know the American Idol contestant can act?
Oh, wait, that's Chace Crawford (below, left), isn't it? Forgive us for confusing the Idol finalist with the Gossip Girl star, but you can see why it's easy to make such a mistake, can't you?
Not many American Idol fans are familiar with Raine Maida, but one of this season's top contestants sure is.
When asked which singer David Cook would like to have a duet with, he didn't hesitate to name this member of Our Lady of Peace.
"I have been a huge fan for a long time and something about that dude's voice and stage presence is really unique," Cook said. "So to be able to perform with him would be kind of cool."
Tuesday's American Idol featured the contestants performing songs from the year they were born. Born in 1982, David Cook finished the night with a stunning and unique performance of Michael Jackson's hit "Billie Jean."
David Cook slowed it down, rocked it out and created an entirely new vibe for what is a very familiar song, earning raves from all three judges.
See for yourself, or watch it again if you tuned in last night. It's worth it.
Here's David Cook performing "Billie Jean" ...
Earlier, Kristy Lee Cook finally had a good night, while the judges also seemed to like David Archuleta and Michael Johns, predictably.
Carly Smithson? Not so much this time. The rest of the also-rans received typically mixed reviews, leaving a lot of question marks tonight.
All in all, it was David Cook's show, however.
Randy called him "the most original, the most bold contestant we've ever had" and suggested he "might be the one to win the whole lot."
Could Jackson be right? Tell us. Who do you think had the best - and the worst - performances from last night on American Idol?
Despite all the praise you may be hearing right now about David Archuleta's rendition of "Imagine" on last night's American Idol - and despite the shrieks from teenage girls we can still hear - other contestants did sing throughout the evening, as well.
Until Archuleta enthralled viewers, it had been a relatively weak night of auditions. But the following pair did earn praise from the judges:
David Cook: It's official: this wannabe rocker isn't nearly hardcore enough to be the next Chris Daughtry. But he did a solid job on the song "All Right Now." Randy Jackson said about it:
To me you're our real rocker from the boys this year. I actually really, really liked that. I thought it was a smart choice of song. it was cool for you, man. I really kind of believed you right there.
David Hernandez: No longer flying under the radar, Hernandez impressed fans with his take on the song "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." It earned this reply from Simon Cowell:
This may surprise you, but in my opinion that was the best vocal of the night so far ... I like the fact that when you are given some criticism, rather than sulking you treat it as a challenge ... You've risen to the challenge.
