Voters Elect Ruben 'American Idol'
Just Over 130,000 Votes Separate Him From Aiken
POSTED: 11:05 p.m. EDT May 21, 2003
UPDATED: 3:22 p.m. EDT May 22, 2003
Music voters have elected Ruben Studdard their new "American Idol."
The Birmingham, Ala., native won by 130,000 votes over Clay Aiken of Raleigh, N.C. The show's host, Ryan Seacrest, said over 24 million votes were cast in the face off, with 50.28 percent going to Studdard, and 49.72 percent going to Aiken.
Seacrest initially said on the show that 13,000 votes separated the two, then just over 1,300 -- but neither one of those figures were right.
After the broadcast, according to The Associated Press, a spokesman for the show put the decimal point in the right place -- placing the vote difference betwee Studdard and Aiken at 130,000 votes.
Aiken later validated the vote difference, telling AP that he has "130,000 people to beat up."
Studdard, 24, was left speechless by the win, and only said, "I feel great -- thank God, I love you all," after his name was read.
Like last season's "Idol" winner, Kelly Clarkson, Studdard won an RCA recording contract for becoming the new "American Idol." Studdard sang "Flyin' Without Wings" after the win was announced, and was joined onstage during the song by the show's other finalists as well as Aiken.
After the song, a smiling Aiken, 24, said Studdard was "one of the most talented people I know," and "one of the best friends I have. I'm so proud of him. I'm so proud of everybody on this stage. I couldn't have had a better experience."
Aiken then joked, "I'm gonna beat him up later." Studdard replied by saying "I love you, man," to which Aiken said, "I love you, too."
Like Justin Guarini last season, Aiken's career will not end on the "American Idol" stage. Before Studdard's name was announced, the sharp-tongued judge Simon Cowell made no secret of the fact that they'll both have music coming out.
"The big battle's coming -- we're going to put their records out the same week, and that's going to be the big challenge."
Studdard has a tough act to follow in Clarkson. Her debut single "A Moment Like This" shot straight to No. 1 just weeks after the show ended and her album "Thankful" debuted at No. 1 on the album charts last month.
Music mogul Clive Davis was among the many notable music personalities to appear on the program, and he, along with the help of Aiken and Studdard, presented Clarkson with a Recording Industry Association of America certified platinum album.
The latest "American Idol" competition began in January, with 70,000 auditions that took place across the country.
Wednesday's title was decided at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles. Another competition will begin next January.
The Birmingham, Ala., native won by 130,000 votes over Clay Aiken of Raleigh, N.C. The show's host, Ryan Seacrest, said over 24 million votes were cast in the face off, with 50.28 percent going to Studdard, and 49.72 percent going to Aiken.
Seacrest initially said on the show that 13,000 votes separated the two, then just over 1,300 -- but neither one of those figures were right.
After the broadcast, according to The Associated Press, a spokesman for the show put the decimal point in the right place -- placing the vote difference betwee Studdard and Aiken at 130,000 votes.
Aiken later validated the vote difference, telling AP that he has "130,000 people to beat up."
Studdard, 24, was left speechless by the win, and only said, "I feel great -- thank God, I love you all," after his name was read.
Like last season's "Idol" winner, Kelly Clarkson, Studdard won an RCA recording contract for becoming the new "American Idol." Studdard sang "Flyin' Without Wings" after the win was announced, and was joined onstage during the song by the show's other finalists as well as Aiken.
After the song, a smiling Aiken, 24, said Studdard was "one of the most talented people I know," and "one of the best friends I have. I'm so proud of him. I'm so proud of everybody on this stage. I couldn't have had a better experience."
Aiken then joked, "I'm gonna beat him up later." Studdard replied by saying "I love you, man," to which Aiken said, "I love you, too."
Like Justin Guarini last season, Aiken's career will not end on the "American Idol" stage. Before Studdard's name was announced, the sharp-tongued judge Simon Cowell made no secret of the fact that they'll both have music coming out.
"The big battle's coming -- we're going to put their records out the same week, and that's going to be the big challenge."
Studdard has a tough act to follow in Clarkson. Her debut single "A Moment Like This" shot straight to No. 1 just weeks after the show ended and her album "Thankful" debuted at No. 1 on the album charts last month.
Music mogul Clive Davis was among the many notable music personalities to appear on the program, and he, along with the help of Aiken and Studdard, presented Clarkson with a Recording Industry Association of America certified platinum album.
The latest "American Idol" competition began in January, with 70,000 auditions that took place across the country.
Wednesday's title was decided at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles. Another competition will begin next January.Copyright 2003 by clickorlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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