AceShowbiz -

As the fifth season of Fox's hugely successful reality program "American Idol" eventually came to its finale on May 24, it is the gray-haired soul singer Taylor Hicks who at last was named the show's winner after gaining the highest point of votes of million viewers all around the States.

Becoming the oldest "American Idol" winner to date, the Alabama native gloriously beat down beautiful ballader Katharine McPhee to secure a lavish recording contract while also will see his first-single release in the next few days. "Thank you America! I'm living the American Dream," so he joyously screamed at the end of the show.

Held at Hollywood's Kodak Theater, the program's finale was filled by enjoyable performances by noted music stars such as Prince, Dionne Warwick, Mary J. Blige, Burt Bacharach, Toni Braxton, and Meat Loaf. This season's show itself has satisfyingly turned to be a ratings juggernaut that was able to attract some 30 million viewers a week since January.

A sixth series therefore has been scheduled to come up onscreen next year in January.