'American Idol' finalists Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez - Photo Credit: Michael Becker / FOX.Following performances by Rihanna, Chaka Khan, Neil Diamond, CCR’s John Fogerty with Phillip Phillips, Jordin Sparks with Hollie Cavanagh, Jennifer Halliday with Jessica Sanchez, Fantasia and Joshua Ledet, Reba McEntire and Skylar Laine, and judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler (with Aerosmith), American Idol crowned the season 11 winner. A new record of 132 million votes were cast to decide whether it would be the cute 16 year old San Diegan with the big voice or the 21 year old white guy with a guitar – an almost unstoppable force on American Idol. After those votes were counted, it was Phillip Phillips who was crowned the new AI winner.
Jessica Sanchez wasn’t able to break the hold males have on the title. To find the last female winner of the singing competition, you have to go all the way back to 2006. That was the last time a woman – Jordin Sparks – was able to drum up more votes. Since then it’s been a series of white guys with guitars who’ve taken home the title of American Idol winner.
