Pictured: Scotty McCreery soaking up his American Idol season 10 win during the Grand Finale. CR: Michael Becker/FOX
Judas Priest and James Durbin rockin, Gladys Knight and Jacob Lusk given us gospel, Casey Abrams and Jack Black singing Fat Bottom Girls – and that was just the guys kicking off the American Idol Season 10 Grand Finale Wednesday night.
Pictured: Beyonce at the AMERICAN IDOL GRAND FINALE. CR: Michael Becker/FOX
The gals took it up a notch and did a mini tribute to Beyonce beginning with All the Single Ladies and all before Beyonce took the stage with them.
I wasn’t sure the production could put together a two-hour finale without a vat of boring fillers, but they did it and loaded that stage with a variety of superstar performers.
Forever cool Tony Bennett took the stage with Idol‘s season 10 third runner up Haley Reinhart performing Steppin’ Out with My Baby. Then Tim McGraw represented Country Music with Idol finalist Scotty McCreery performing Live Like You Were Dying.
Hayley Reinhart (left) performs with Tony Bennett (right). CR: Michael Becker/FOX
And can we get a show of hands of how many viewers are dying to go to a Marc Anthony concert after his Idol performance with his honey Jennifer Lopez and singer Sheila E on percussion?
Tom Jones (left) and Casey Abrams (right) during the season ten AMERICAN IDOL GRAND FINALE. CR: Michael Becker/FOX
The tribute to Tom Jones leading into the master showman taking the stage himself was power driven and only match by Jones‘ performance.
And what Idol finale would be complete without Lady Gaga, who rocked it out high above the crowd then took a dive into a faux volcano-like hole below.
Carrie Underwood continues to prove why she made it to the top of not just Idol, but Country Music. The duet with Underwood and Idol finalist Lauren Alaina of Underwood’s hit tune Before He Cheats was a showstopper complete with fireworks. Underwood has never forgotten the production that gave her a career – and she never fails to return home when they ask.
Special guest Marc Anthony performs with Idol Judge and wife Jennifer Lopez. CR: Michael Becker/FOX
Idol finalist Lauren Alaina performs with Special guest Carrie Underwood. CR: Michael Becker/FOX
The Spider-Man sequence with Bono proved he’s a music force for life – while demonstrating just how well a blockbuster movie and comic book can translate to a splashy stage musical.
And they saved Steven Tyler for last – and it’s only fitting that the song be the Aerosmith tune Dream On. After all, it took big dreams for those contestants to jump into the Idol fire and make it to the top. Besides, Tyler can still hit those crazy-high notes, deliver them in high velocity – and leave us screaming for more.
Lady GaGa performs during the season ten AMERICAN IDOL GRAND FINALE. CR: Michael Becker/FOX
In other words, every genre of music was represented. Jeez Nigel Lythgoe, welcome back. All the pizzazz that Lythgoe brings to So You Think You Can Dance – opening out eyes and minds to the different styles of dance – was what we experienced for Idol‘s finale…but with music.
So, who won? Well, really who cares? Both contestants are deserving of the title of American Idol and are just beginning their long road of stardom. However, just to keep score, it was Scotty McCreery who took the crown and got the guaranteed music contract…at least until next week when Lauren Alaina is scooped up and signed to a contract of her own.
Woooooooooooooooooooow U R Amazing