Ellen DeGeneres - Wireimage

Funny woman Ellen DeGeneres would definitely make a good judge for Last Comic Standing, but it’s just been announced that she’ll move out of her comfort zone and try her hand at judging singers in America’s biggest televised singing competition American Idol.

Fox announced late today that the Daytime Emmy award winning talk show host will join Idol’s 9th season as the replacement for former judge Paula Abdul, who left the show abruptly in July.

DeGeneres notes she has limited music experience, but says she hopes to act as “people’s point of view.”

“I’m not looking at it in a critical way from the producer’s mind,” she said while announcing her new “night job” on a taped statement to air on her show tomorrow.  “I’m looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person.”

DeGeneres rounds out Idol’s judging table which included Kara DioGuardi, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell.

Kelly Clarkson - Wireimage

American Idol fans, rejoice! Kelly Clarkson is coming home!

Idol’s inaugural winner is returning to her roots to help fill the judging void left by Paula Abdul’s abrupt absence, a source tells Fox News’ Pop Tarts.

Clarkson — who has famously tried her best to distance herself from the American Idol title, though, she has performed on this show several times since winning — will be joined by a member of the Jonas Brothers for next week’s auditions.

How does Kelly feel about being back in the Idol  graces, this time behind the table? “She’s beyond excited,” the source revealed.

Clarkson and Jonas join a long list of celeb guest judges helping out in season 9 that include Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain and Jennifer Lopez.

American Idol's Paula Abdul and Ryan Seacrest

As reactions pour in about Paula Abdul’s decision not to return to Fox’s American Idol, some of those who’ve become closest to her have given their two cent on the matter. One of those people? American Idol’s host Ryan Seacrest.

“I have read what u have read and I am shocked and saddened about Paula,” Ryan tweeted on mirco-blogging website Twitter before turning in for the night. “Idol and the cast have grown with each other over the last 8 seasons..I can’t imagine the panel without Paula. She’s a star and a great friend.”

While it seems Paula will not be back on the hugely successful talent show that has produced stars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and David Cook, Ryan is a lock for the next three seasons. He secured a new contract worth more than $45 million several weeks ago.

Paula Abdul/Wireimage

Notoriously nice judge Paula Abdul is leaving American Idol. The singer/dancer announced the news on her official Twitter page.

“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to #IDOL,” she tweeted late Tuesday (August 4). “I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon.”

Paula walking may or may not come as a surprise to some as rumors swirled weeks ago that it was likely she would not return–rumors given more backing by Paula’s manager David Sonenberg.

“Very sadly, it does not appear that she’s going to be back on ‘Idol,” he told the LA Times earlier in July.

Paula has been a fixture on the wildly popular talent search show for eight seasons. Left to fill the girl-power void is newcomer singer/songwriter Kara DioGuardi who has signed on to return for season nine.

American Idol season 8 third place finisher Danny Gokey was so charming and bubbly during the duration of the musical competition that it’s easy to forget he faced incredible tragedy not even a year ago. Danny’s young wife, Sophia Gokey, died just 4 weeks before his American Idol audition–an audition she encouraged him to go for.

“What do you do at a moment of tragedy? She wanted me to go on, I wanted to go on. It was the last year” 29-year-old Danny said during his appearance on Regis And Kelly, referring to the show’s age restrictions. “Initially, I didn’t want to do it. I felt like I needed another year to just recover.”

To try and move on from the pain, Danny pressed on with his audition and now thinks it was the best decision he’s made. “At a time where I had no hope, hope all of a sudden was brought to me through music. The show brought hope to me.”

There were some lighter moments during Danny’s first ever talk show appearance.  Watch the full video above and take a look at his stunning performance of What Hurts The Most below.

Behind every good man is a good woman right? This is true for new American Idol Kris Allen. The Conway, Arkansas native credits his wife with his success saying she believed in him more than he believed in himself.

“My wife has been the biggest support ever. I seriously almost gave up a lot.” Kris told comedian and TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres during a recent taping. “She was just like you know, you gotta keep going.”

Kris has been on an insane promotional blitz after his shocking win almost a week ago. During the recent taping, Kris also performed his new single, the Kara DioGuardi co-written No Boundaries and the song that arguably secured his win, Kanye West’s Heartless.

Heartless

No Boundaries

Conway, Arkansas native Kris Allen beat out theatrical rocker Adam Lambert to take home the American Idol crown last night in what has to be the show’s biggest upset. Perhaps what helped give him the winning edge was the new song that would become Kris’ debut single. Co-written by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, the single No Boundaries seems much more suited for Kris’ Folk/Pop sound.

The studio version of the single sounds much better than the live performance. It’s actual bearable and the extreme corniness of the lyrics doesn’t bother me at all now. Not to mention Kris has one hell of a voice! I can see him going very far. *Hearts!*

Kris Allen – No Boundaries [CLICK HERE TO LISTEN]

American Idol season 8’s notorious fail contestant Katrina “Bikini Girl” Darrell made a name for herself not for making it far in the competition (because she didn’t; she was booted during Hollywood week’s group challenge) but for showing off her beach body, kissing Ryan Seacrest, and her rivalry with judge Kara DioGuardi.

During her audition, she performed a weak version of Mariah Carey’s “Vision of Love” before being told by DioGuardi that she doesn’t have the chops to sing the song. Kara demonstrated how the song should be sung, to which Darrell infamously snapped at the judge, “Your demonstration wasn’t any better.”

Bikini Girl (and her brand new boob job) took the stage during the season finale last night to perform the song (no better than her audition) one more time, but to her surprise Kara came out and not only upstaged her by performing the song 10 times better, but whipped out some bikini action of her own.

Check the video above!

Tons of stars and former Idols turned out to see Kris Allen take the American Idol crown from Adam Lambert last night in Hollywood. Others came not only to watch, but to hit the stage as well. Take a look at some of the red carpet arrival photos and see the rest of our American Idol finale coverage here:

Kris Allen’s winning moment
Adam Lambert and Kris Allen duets
Black Eyed Peas and Jason Mraz perform
Queen Latifah, Cyndi Lauper, and Lionel Richie perform
David Cook performs

David Cook, Bo Bice, David Archuleta

Black Eyed Peas

Carrie Underwood, Jason Mraz, Kimberly Caldwell

Kimberley Locke, Brooke White, Blake Lewis

Simon Cowell, Terri Seymour, Randy Jackson

Paula Abdul, Kara DioGuardi, Diana DeGarmo

Chris Daughtry and his band

Melinda Doolittle, Jason Castro, David Hernandez

Mandisa, Ruben Studdard, Michael Johns

photos: wireimage, getty images

With nine words Ryan Seacrest delivered one of the biggest upsets in reality TV history: “The winner of American Idol 2009 is Kris Allen.”

The Conway, Arkansas native shocked his way to victory beating out fan and judge favorite Adam Lambert to become the eighth American Idol.

Not even Kris knew how to handle the news. “Are you serious!? Are you freakin’ serious!?” the stunned 23-year-old said shortly after the sealed results were read.

“The dark horse comes back and wins the nation over. How does it feel?” Seacrest asked the new Idol. “It feels good man, but Adam deserves this. I don’t even know how to feel right now!”

A gracious Lambert took his final bow and let Kris have his moment. “You’re a superstar, bro” Seacrest told the runner-up rocker with the blindingly unique style and amazing high notes.

The stage was soon given to Allen to perform his debut single, “No Boundaries,” which was co-written by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi.

Watch the classic moment and performance above.

Is Kris Allen your American Idol? Or are you officially over American Idol now that Adam Lambert is a runner-up?