New 'Idol' Vows To Stay Country

Oklahoma's Carrie Underwood Stomps Bo Bice; Clark Upset At Spoof

(CBS/AP)  "We can look forward to an album coming out soon, so keep your eyes open," he said.

Underwood, a 22-year-old college senior, became the talk of her hometown of Checotah — and the choice of fourth-season "Idol" voters — as she delivered almost uniformly consistent performances each week.

"She has more of the star quality," said Cindy Monteleone of Chicago, who was among hundreds of people who dropped by the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood to watch former "American Idol" contestants arrive for the show's taping.

Underwood couldn't compete with rock 'n' roller Bice on his style of music ("I'm not sure I'm loving the rocked-out Carrie," judge Randy Jackson said after one attempt) but shone in her favorite genre, country.

Friends and family describe Underwood as a polite, quiet, small-town girl who is dedicated to music.

"I hope this doesn't change her," said Underwood's mother, Carole Underwood.

Bice, 29, of Helena, Ala., would have been the oldest "Idol" winner. He brought an unexpected rock edge to the show's usually mainstream pop style, shining on songs such as the 1970s hit "Vehicle."

"He's just so sincere and he projects that," fan Donna Leoni, who was pulling for Bice, said outside the theater.

The live two-hour finale was padded by clips from throughout the season, interviews with the judges and the finalists, and concert and product plugs (the finalists received gift cars, which were featured in a big-screen video close-up).

There was also a mock documentary spoof of this year's off-stage controversy, in which a former contestant claimed that "Idol" judge Paula Abdul had made sexual advances to him.

Abdul participated in the satire.