Photo Flash: AMERICAN IDOL Season Finale - Lady Gaga, Beyonce, & More!

"American Idol" is a reality competition to find new solo musical talent, created by Simon Fuller. It debuted June 11, 2002 on the Fox network and has since become one of the most popular shows on American television. It is currently the #1 TV show in the Nielsen Ratings and is one of only three that have been #1 for five consecutive seasons. The cast of "Idol" includes judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, and host Ryan Seacrest.

The program aims to discover the best singer in the country through a series of nation-wide auditions, and subsequent viewer voting. Through telephone voting, America has chosen past winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen, and Lee Dewyze.

Several "Idol" contestants have been seen on the Broadway stage, including Barrino (The Color Purple), Hicks (Grease), Clay Aiken (Spamalot), Diana DeGarmo (Hairspray, Hair), Josh Strickland (Tarzan), Tamyra Gray (Rent, Bombay Dreams), Constantine Maroulis (The Wedding Singer, Rock of Ages), and Ace Young (Hair).

In a night packed with performances from stars from Beyonce to Lady Gaga to Tim McGRaw, this year's winner was revealed to be 17-year-old country crooner Scotty McCreery; BroadwayWorld brings you offical photo coverage of the AMERICAN IDOL season finale below!

Photo Credit: Michael Becker / FOX