• Be sure to keep checking AmericanIdol.com for more from tonight's finale! We'll have exclusive interviews, behind the scenes videos, and a ton of pictures that you won't want to miss!

    After all your votes last night, who will take the Season 7 crown? We'll leave it all in Ryan's capable hands. Get ready for some great performances, hilarious moments, and of course, the crowning of your American Idol! (May 21, 2008 6:14 PM)

  • Now that we're wrapped up on Season 7's arrivals, it's finally time for tonight's Grand Finale. We saw everyone from ZZ Top to Teri Hatcher, and of course, a boatload of Idol alumni! There will be some surprises in tonight's show and some familiar faces as well. Have no fear, there will be something for everyone tonight!

    The show will bring back a ton of memories to many former Idols in attendance, but it's all about David Cook and David Archuleta at the Season 7 finale tonight! Arch Angels, Cookies, and American Idol fans, enjoy the show tonight! (May 21, 2008 6:07 PM)

  • Jordin Sparks is wearing an angelic white dress tonight and was one of the last people to make her way down the red carpet. She was running late and wanted to make it into the show. While interviews were tough to come by, smiles and waves were aplenty from the Season 6 winner!

    It was just a year ago that Jordin was singing "This Is My Now" under the lights at the finale and it's time for David Archuleta or David Cook to have that moment tonight! (May 21, 2008 5:51 PM)

  • No stranger to runways, supermodel Janice Dickinson made a point to smile for the cameras as she made her way down the red carpet. The self-proclaimed first "Supermodel" and reality TV star was certainly looking super tonight. (May 21, 2008 5:47 PM)
  • Television personality and comedian Joel McHale was the one answering questions this time around. He was one of the more unusual sightings on the carpet tonight, but he always seems to have a lot to say about American Idol. Who knew he was a fan? (May 21, 2008 5:41 PM)
  • Hugs, hugs, everywhere! This time, it's Chris Sligh and guess who? Sanjaya Malakar! If you're a Fanjaya, he's wearing a white button down shirt, loose black tie, and some jeans tonight. No crazy hair this time around for Sanjaya, but he still had no problems turning heads! (May 21, 2008 5:39 PM)
  • One of the coolest moments on this year's red carpet was seeing Season 3's Jasmine Trias and a very red-haired Fantasia share a huge hug in the middle of the arrivals area. While Fantasia ended up winning Season 3, Jasmine was right there with her into the late stages of the competition and the two clearly have a bond from their time on American Idol. (May 21, 2008 5:37 PM)
  • One of Season 6's most memorable contestants, LaKisha Jones, sported a form fitting white dress and some gold heels. LaKisha's hair is much longer than the last time we saw her, be on the lookout for her in the crowd tonight! In today's heat, white seems to be the color of choice and LaKisha wears it well! (May 21, 2008 5:35 PM)
  • Season 3's LaToya London, who recently was part of the musical production "The Color Purple," walked the red carpet with singer/producer Prince Damons. (May 21, 2008 5:31 PM)
  • Bo Bice had great things to say about both contestants, but said that he has been keeping a close eye on David Cook because they share a rock music background. As a reminder, Bo was Season 4's Southern rock runner-up and dazzled Idol fans with his performance of "In a Dream" at the finale where he competed with eventual winner Carrie Underwood. (May 21, 2008 5:27 PM)
  • Here's what all the cheers were about a little while ago! Carrie Underwood had camera crews crawling over each other to snap a few pictures of the Season 4 winner and music superstar. Word is that Carrie will be performing tonight and clearly, fans are pretty excited about it. To anyone who's wondering, yes, she looks beautiful (shocking, we know). (May 21, 2008 5:22 PM)
  • Amy Davis snuck by behind me with her date, but I caught a glimpse of one of this year's Top 24. While Amy didn't make this year's Top 12, she was, like the other Idols, sporting a White dress. A few of the camera crews around me quickly snapped a few pictures after she caught us all off guard. (May 21, 2008 5:19 PM)
  • TV star Lori Laughlin will be attendance as well. The ageless beauty looked great in the Southern California sun! I feel like she's a celebrity who will always turn heads wherever she goes. (May 21, 2008 5:16 PM)
  • Bo Bice came back out to do some interviews. He talked about his life before and after American Idol as well as his new album. He had great things to say about the American Idol experience and said that Idol helped accelerate his growth as an artist. (May 21, 2008 5:14 PM)
  • Ruben Studdard will be in attendance as well tonight. He was impossible to miss with his black sunglasses and pinstripe suit. The Season 2 winner and singer of this year's Goodbye song, "Celebrate Me Home," took a ton of questions from the media after his great performance last night. (May 21, 2008 5:11 PM)
  • Ace Young was all smiles while he shared a hug with Constantine and Gina. In Ace Young fashion, he was happy to answer any questions and the co-writer of Daughtry's huge hit "It's Not Over" wore his trademark smile on the whole way down the red carpet. (May 21, 2008 5:09 PM)
  • Arrivals were scheduled to stop 30 minutes before the show, but like any award show, they went over their allotted time. Idol alumnus Kevin Covais was split on the Top 2, saying that David Cook won the season, but David Archuleta won Tuesday night. Kevin had kind things to say about all the judges and said he had a chance to catch up with them and thank them earlier this year. (May 21, 2008 5:06 PM)
  • I just spoke with Kevin Covais and he told me that he's doing some acting nowadays. Be on the lookout for him! (May 21, 2008 4:33 PM)
  • After a day filled with interviews, Constantine Maroulis and Gina Glocksen are starting to wrap things up, but not before they spend some time with Jasmine Trias. (May 21, 2008 4:30 PM)
  • Five minutes until the doors close for tonight's live show (doors close 30 minutes before the show starts) and it looks like we're starting to wrap things up out here. The fans are rushing in to make sure they get their seats. This is one party not to be late to! (May 21, 2008 4:29 PM)
  • Paula just zoomed through the arrivals area wearing a long, bright red dress. Glamorous as always for the finale, Paula smiled and waved to everyone as she made her way down (quickly though, it's almost show time!). (May 21, 2008 4:27 PM)
  • We haven't seen Idol alumna Christina Christian in a little while, but she's excited to be back! She looks beautiful as always and is carrying on the night's white outfit theme with a short white dress. She and Brandon Rogers are exchanging some hellos. (May 21, 2008 4:25 PM)
  • David Archuleta and David Cook were getting dragged all over the red carpet, but they followed the guys from the Top 12 quickly through the press line. The cheers were huge and both Davids couldn't stop laughing at all the commotion. It's going to be a great show tonight! (May 21, 2008 4:21 PM)
  • David A and David C just arrived! They are doing interviews together. It looks like they get along so well that it's hard to imagine them duking it out like they did on Tuesday's show! (May 21, 2008 4:19 PM)
  • Spotted: Michael Johns, Jason Castro, David Hernandez and Chikezie looking good in all white. They're here, but they're running late! (May 21, 2008 4:18 PM)
  • Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Even talk show host Jerry Springer is here. Believe it. (May 21, 2008 4:17 PM)
  • Idol alumnus Kevin Covais is here as well. He's sporting a mop-top nowadays, so it was tough to recognize him. I'm also seeing Paris Bennett out of the corner of my eye. It's definitely becoming finale mania out here. (May 21, 2008 4:15 PM)
  • Peter Noone is making an appearance and looks pretty laid back in a tan jacket. (May 21, 2008 4:14 PM)
  • Jasmine Trias and Melinda Doolittle just shared a hug on the red carpet. Three seasons of American Idol between them, they looked like they were really excited to see one another and posed for some pictures. (May 21, 2008 4:11 PM)
  • Teri Hatcher, an attendee from last year's finale, is an attendance again tonight. She's performed at Idol Gives Back this year with her rendition of "Before He Cheats." With her appearance tonight, Teri is clearly a huge American Idol fan! (May 21, 2008 4:08 PM)
  • As we're waiting for more of the stars to make it down the red carpet, what did everyone think about last night's performances? Both David A. and David C. put on a show last night in three fierce rounds. You can check out all the performances in our videos section. Who won last night? And more importantly, who will win tonight? (May 21, 2008 4:06 PM)
  • I was right! Jasmine Trias is here. She has some gold heels on and is stopping down the line to give a bunch of interviews. She's probably standing at just around five feet tall, but everyone has a hard time keeping their eyes off of her. She looks great! It's hard to believe that it was way back in Season 3 when she was on the Idol stage! (May 21, 2008 4:03 PM)
  • I'm hearing that the judges and producer Nigel Lythgoe will be some of the last people to arrive. Last year, the judges got some of the biggest applause as they made their way down the red carpet. I have no doubt this year will be no different. (May 21, 2008 4:01 PM)
  • I just turned around and guess who was behind me? None other than David Archuleta's dad! He's got to be excited for David tonight along with the Arch Angels. Everyone else just found him and you'd think he was a contestant with the crowd around him! (May 21, 2008 3:58 PM)
  • Last night, it sounded like there were an equal number of Cookies and Arch Angels in the audience. In the arrivals area, however, all the Idol alumni are getting cheered on as if they were still on the show. (May 21, 2008 3:56 PM)
  • Chris Sligh is rocking a striped blazer over a t-shirt. What t-shirt you ask? A Ghostbusters vintage T. Awesome? Yes, it is. (May 21, 2008 3:53 PM)
  • Dominic from SYTYCD just busted out some flares and halos on the red carpet. This red carpet is anything but ordinary. We're still waiting on the Top 12, who are supposed to make an appearance tonight! (May 21, 2008 3:52 PM)
  • The fans just erupted down the street, so I'm guessing that we're waiting on a pretty big arrival right now. Everyone is beyond excited for today's David v. David showdown. The environment here is electric! (May 21, 2008 3:51 PM)
  • Hip-Hop choreographer Dan Karaty is doing some interviews right next to me right now. Could he be involved with tonight's show? Lauren from SYTYCD sounds like she's involved with a ton of projects right now and is happy to take some questions. (May 21, 2008 3:49 PM)
  • I THINK that I see Jasmine Trias a little ways down the red carpet. She looks absolutely beautiful in a short silver dress. She definitely looks taller on TV, but looks stunning! (May 21, 2008 3:46 PM)
  • Lacey Schwimmer is standing right in front of me, along with Sara from SYTYCD. It's pretty much a dream come true. Lacey looks beyond beautiful and Sara is sporting her new mohawk! We're really rolling now and it looks like the celebs are going to start coming through non-stop. (May 21, 2008 3:45 PM)
  • Apparently, the SYTYCD crew will be involved in the show in some way, shape, or form tonight. Exciting news! (May 21, 2008 3:42 PM)
  • Directly behind me, a fan snapped a picture with Justin Guarini. Good idea? Bad idea? Now everyone is asking Justin for a picture and he's doing his best to keep up with them. (May 21, 2008 3:39 PM)
  • Anya is also here with the rest of the SYTYCD crew. She looks insanely beautiful tonight and is all smiles. There is no doubt that the whole crew is having a great time. (May 21, 2008 3:38 PM)
  • Joining Lacey and Pasha are breakdancers Hok and Dominic from SYTYCD as well. Hok's hair, as always, is insanely unique. Dominic is all hip-hopped out with a black hat with a shimmering gold "D" on it. (May 21, 2008 3:36 PM)
  • Lacey Schwimmer, who danced at Idol Gives Back this year, is hanging out in the heat with Pasha from SYTYCD. How is Lacey handling the heat with those boots on? (May 21, 2008 3:34 PM)
  • Season 6's Chris Sligh is hanging out with Gina Glocksen on the red carpet. You can spot him from a mile away with his trademark 'do. So far, it looks like tonight will be filled with Idol alumni in the audience. (May 21, 2008 3:31 PM)
  • Every few seconds, the fans in attendance erupt, signaling yet another celebrity sighting who will be heading our way. There isn't a dull moment here on the red carpet! Stick with us all day to read and see who will be in attendance tonight! (May 21, 2008 3:29 PM)
  • Melinda Doolittle is looking great in a beautiful full length blue dress with some rhinestone accents. Her hair is in soft curls and she seems to be having no problems keeping cool in the heat. (May 21, 2008 3:22 PM)
  • Bo Bice, Melinda Doolittle, and Constantine Maroulis are making their way down the red carpet. Melinda just gave Brandon Rogers a big hug as they caught up with one another. (May 21, 2008 3:20 PM)
  • Camera crews from every major media outlet are in place and ready for all of the biggest names in entertainment that will be here for the David A. vs. David C. showdown tonight. Idol alumnus Brandon Rogers just arrived and is giving interviews up and down the red carpet. (May 21, 2008 3:12 PM)
  • Welcome, all! We're here at the American Idol finale to bring you all of the arrival action from the red carpet at the NOKIA Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. Keep checking back for updates up until tonight's Grand Finale! (May 21, 2008 3:08 PM)