RYAN SEACREST, LAINE HARDY Photo

From: Photo Coverage: AMERICAN IDOL Crowns This Year's Winner

Following a cross-country search for the next singing sensation, "American Idol" rounded out its second season on ABC with an epic grand finale event, featuring "Idol"'s Top 3 contestants: Alejandro Aranda, Laine Hardy and Madison VanDenburg. For the first time in "Idol" history, America's live coast-to-coast vote determined the winner of the iconic singing competition series, as all voting took place during the show. The voting determined that Laine Hardy was the winner of American Idol!