Scotty McCreery wins 'American Idol'

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN Entertainment) - Even though this season of "American Idol" introduced rocker Steven Tyler and pop diva Jennifer Lopez as judges, it was country crooning that made it to the top two. After a record-breaking 122 million votes, Scotty McCreery is the country's 10th American Idol.

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It was a tight race between the 17-year-old North Carolina native, who performed alongside Tim McGraw during the finale, and 16-year-old Lauren Alaina. But McCreery's deep-voiced country covers earned him the judges' praises, and America's votes, week after week.

"It's been a year since me and Lauren Alaina tried out now," Scotty said in apparent disbelief after Ryan Seacrest made the announcement. "We've been together since day one and we're going to stay together. This is just - never in my wildest dreams ... I got to thank the Lord first. He got me here."

Who would've thought the slightly unlikable teen during Hollywood week (he was, lest we forget, part of the group who kicked out babyfaced Jacee Badeaux) singing Josh Turner's "Your Man" on repeat would have been this year's winner? Well if it's any wonder, McCreery never appeared in the bottom three.

After the announcement, McCreery then went into his first single, "I Love You This Big." Hardly able to sing it because of emotion, or maybe he hadn't mastered all the words just yet, McCreery went off stage and then back, hugging all his family members and fellow contestants.

"I Love You This Big" was made available for download just after the show's finale. It's already #2 on iTunes, just behind Adele's monster hit "Rolling in the Deep," and could earn McCreery his very first top 10 hit.