I don’t know if it’s the good looks of the innate talent but this year’s dark horse wins the Ninth Season of American Idol.

Lee DeWyze of Illinois was actually not the front runner at the beginning of the show but he remains supreme ousting Ohioan Crystal Bowersox during a two-hour special.

Upon accepting the award, Lee thanked his family and closest friends in supporting him throughout the competition.

Meanwhile, Lee longtime friend Brian Friedopfer previously told MTV News that, “He’s going to win. The Nokia [Theatre] is a different element for both the constants and the judges. Lee may have been a little nervous, considering the theater was filled with 7,000 people, but the judges didn’t hear what they think they did. I guarantee that if and when they watch it back, they’ll realize Lee did a fantastic job with the songs that were given to him, and America knows it. Lee DeWyze will be crowned the next American Idol tonight.”