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• American Idol season 8 premiered on Tuesday, January 13, 2009.Official Site: American Idol Season Premiere Announced (November 6, 2008)

  On May 20, 2009, Kris Allen was announced as the winner of American Idol. Eonline: [1] (May 20, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Show: American Idol
  2. Network: FOX
  3. Season premiere: January 13, 2009
  4. Previous season: 7
  5. New episodes: Tuesdays at 8 p.m. and Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET
  6. Judges: Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardiUSA Today: Songwriter Kara DioGuardi joins American Idol panel (August 26, 2008)
  7. Host: Ryan Seacrest
  8. Created by: Simon Fuller
  9. Directed by: Bruce Gowers
  10. Running time: Varies
  11. Season 8 auditions began on July 17, 2008Official Site: Who Will Be The Next Singing Superstar (July 1, 2008)
  12. Nigel Lythgoe is no longer with the showEW.com: Lythgoe Leaving 'American Idol' (August 4, 2008)
  13. Will have less of the bad auditions then previous seasonsOK! Magazine: Less is More for Next Season of American Idol (July 14, 2008)

• Veto and other Idol firsts

  For the first time in Idol history, a top 13, was featured, rather than a top 12. Also introduced this season was a judges veto. The veto can be used to save any eliminated contestant, but only one time in the whole season and each judge must agree to use it. The judges used their veto power on contestant Matt Giraud on April 15, 2009, paving the way for two contestants to be eliminated he following week. Season 8 of American Idol also features a new addition to the judges table. Kara DioGuardi joined Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.

• Top 10

  • Kris Allen - Winner
  • Adam Lambert - Eliminated
  • Danny Gokey - Eliminated
  • Allison Iraheta - Eliminated
  • Matt Giraud - Eliminated
  • Lil Rounds - Eliminated
  • Anoop Desai - Eliminated
  • Megan Joy - Eliminated
  • Scott MacIntyre - Eliminated
  • Michael Sarver - Eliminated

• Themes

  • Top 13: Michael Jackson
  • Top 11: Grand Ole Opry
  • Top 10: Motown
  • Top 9: Popular iTunes Downloads
  • Top 8: Year They Were Born
  • Top 7: Movie Soundtracks
  • Top 7: Disco
  • Top 6: Rat Pack Standards
  • Top 4: Rock

• Mentors

  1. Randy Travis
  2. Smokey Robinson
  3. Berry Gordy Jr.
  4. Quentin Tarantino
  5. Jamie Foxx

• Season 8 Audition Cities

  • San Francisco, CA
  • Louisville, KY
  • Glendale, AZ
  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • San Juan, PR
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • East Rutherford, NJ

• Prior Winners

  • S1: Kelly Clarkson
  • S2: Ruben Studdard
  • S3: Fantasia Barrino
  • S4: Carrie Underwood
  • S5: Taylor Hicks
  • S6: Jordin Sparks
  • S7: David Cook

• Prior Runner-ups

  • S1: Justin Guarini
  • S2: Clay Aiken
  • S3: Diana DeGarmo
  • S4: Bo Bice
  • S5: Katharine McPhee
  • S6: Blake Lewis
  • S7: David Archuleta

  
  

• Related Mahalo Pages

  American Idol Season 9 | How to Bet on American Idol | American Idol Tickets | American Idol Season 9 Spoilers | American Idol Exit Song

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