KRIS ALLEN LANDS ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ TITLE

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Folksy singer Kris Allen is the new "American Idol," turning judges' favorite Adam Lambert into an also-ran.

Host Ryan Seacrest said on Wednesday's finale that nearly 100 million votes were cast for the finalists. The 23-year-old Allen, a student from Conway, Ark., bested the 27-year-old Lambert, a theater actor from San Diego.