Kris Allen
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Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and their fellow season eight finalists are ready to hit the road. 

The final two contestants on last season's American Idol were on hand at a press day in Los Angeles this week to talk about the Idols Live Tour. In separate interviews with People, each dished on his future in the business:

LAMBERT ON...

... his upcoming album: I am so excited! I think it’s going to come out in November. We haven’t found a title yet. And I’m working with RedOne — he’s an incredible producer who did Lady Gaga’s hit material. I’m working with Linda Perry, with Greg Wells, with Ryan Tedder, Sam Sparrow — amazing writers and producers. And I’m getting to co-write. I wrote a song with Kara Dioguardi from the show. It’s awesome.

... coming out as a homosexual: The response that I’ve felt is mostly positive support, so I think that’s great. It’s a testament to us really trying to become a bit more progressive and focus on what really matters which is that I’m an entertainer and a singer and that’s what it really needs to be about. My private life really has nothing to do with my ability to entertain.

... the tour: I’m looking forward to banking that paycheck. I’m not going to lie, I mean, that’s not my first priority, but, you know, I think for all of us, having gone through experience, to be able to walk away with some financial security in these tough times is really nice.

ALLEN ON...

... recording new CD: It feels great! It feels great to know that you’ve wanted to do this thing your whole life and to know that you have an album coming out in the fall that you’ve worked hard on that is you.

... album specifies: None of that stuff I know yet. I don’t know if we’re going to have any collaborations and I have no idea how many tracks, but I think the CD is going to be great, I really do. A lot of good songs.

... tour accessories: If I got my iPod and my phone, I am perfect because you can talk to people and then you can listen to great music, which I like to do.

Before they embark together on the upcoming American Idol finalist tour this summer, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen spoke to reporters about their plans for future albums.

First, Lambert discussed how he didn't wanna label his music.

“I don’t want to do one specific genre. I’m more about fusion," the runner-up said. "There are a lot of pop artists that are using the ‘glam’ kind of vibe in their music currently so I think I’m actually part of a wave. There just happens to not be many guys doing it right now.”

As for Allen, the American Idol champion:

“‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ - that’s the kind of stuff I want to do, stuff that has that feel, that kind of moves people," Kris said. “I’m not a man of many words. I’m not very expressive or emotional but it comes out in my music. It’s the way I express how I feel.”

Fresh off a surprising American Idol victory, Kris Allen isn't asking for much.

"The only thing that I really want to do is just be respected in the music industry," the singer told reporters in a conference call last week. "And whether that means selling albums or winning Grammys or people just liking your music, that's what I really want to do."

As for the future, Kris and wife Katy know nothing will ever be the same. But that's a good thing, assuming they keep it all in perspective.

"Things are definitely going to change, but we're really strong and she's really cool so we don't have any question that everything's going to be fine," he said.

"Adam deserves this. I'm sorry."

- Kris Allen, upon being announced the winner of American Idol.

As nice - and, clearly, classy - as Allen has proven to be this season, we couldn't agree more with his sentiment.

When people look back on season eight, Adam Lambert is the first name that will come to mind. Truly unique and entertaining, Lambert created something special every time he took the stage.

Still, let's give Allen some credit. His renditions of "Heartless" and "Ain't No Sunshine" were creative and memorable. (And it's not like Lambert won't land a lucrative record deal by, say, tomorrow.).

So congraulations to both contestants. It's like we have two winners!

Click on the pics above for larger images of Kris Allen. Do you think he deserved the American Idol title?