Idol Winner: Carrie Underwood/Inside Your Heaven

Read all about it:

Carrie Underwood in!
Ken Jennings out!
Neal Shapiro toast!
May sweeps ends!

CLICK: Carrie Underwood, All Choked Up (Washington Post) "Underwood, a college senior from Checotah, Okla. (population about 3,500), choked again last night, after show host Ryan Seacrest announced she'd won and she tried to perform the original tune "Inside Your Heaven," which both contestants had been forced to sing the night before. It will be her first single. Warbling through tears and fireworks, Underwood's rendition of "Inside Your Heaven" sounded just as lousy last night as it had Tuesday. Good luck with that, Clive Davis..."

I dutifully downloaded the BMG "Promo Only" version (wav) too and regretably it's not any better. (This "15 minutes of fame" may last only 2:56..)

The best thing about Wednesday night's show: Rascal Flatts performed and did not disappoint. THEY are the real deal.