Phillip Phillips is the season 11 winner of American Idol. Jessica Sanchez takes the runner-up spot. Phillip is the 5th male in a row to win the coveted spot. America castes a record 132 million votes for the finals and Phillip squeaked it out with the majority.

The 21-year-old from Georgia was true to himself and his style throughout the competition and struggled with illness for several weeks in the end but the last two weeks he was fine. It was hard to imagine a 16-year-old winning the prize. People her age could not relate to her and it cost her, though she did well to make it to the finale with her magnificent voice. You will hearing a lot more from her and she may very well record more than the winner.

“It’s been such an honor to be up on this stage playing with everybody, all the fans out there, thank y’all for voting for us,” Phillips said before the results were announced. It’s just been crazy.

After accepting his trophy from last year’s winner, Scotty McCreery, a tearful Phillips performed his coronation song “Home” as confetti rained down on the stage, then walked to the front row to embrace his family.

Congratulations to Phillip and Jessica on a job well done this season.

image courtesy of gossipcop.com & dailymail.co.uk