Lee DeWyze defeated Crystal Bowersox in the finals of season 9 of "American Idol" Wednesday night as aired on Fox TV.
DeWyze, 24, was the one chosen by "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell to win the competition.
DeWyze was working at a paint shop in Chicago and followed his dream to be a professional singer when he joined the Fox TV singing competition.
Bowersox and DeWyze were the last two people who made it to the finals out of almost 100,000 people who joined the audition last summer.
The two-hour finale of the show included performances of American artists Cristina Aguilera, Bret Michaels and Janet Jackson.
Before the announcement of the winner, former judge Paula Abdul appeared and led the send-off for feisty judge Cowell.
Cowell was leaving "American Idol" to host his own show "The X-Factor" next year.
Until now, there's no official announcement from "American Idol" production on who will replace Cowell.
