The 10th season of American Idol came to an end this week with the show’s first all-country finale between the two youngest contestants ever to compete.

Scotty McCreery, a 17-year-old with an incredibly deep soulful voice which defies his young age was up against exhuberant, big-voiced 16-year-old Lauren Aliana for the big prize: a record contract.

The win came as a shock to McCreery who explained: “Lauren Alaina just went out there and did her thing, especially that last song. I thought she took it there. It’s been a nerve-wracking day, I can tell you that much.”

Aliana had performed despite a vocal cord injury that needed medical treatment. The injury didn’t seem to hamper her performance as the judges declared she had won the night.

However, a record 122 million-plus viewers voted for McCreery instead. In fact, throughout the series, McCreery had been consistently popular and never at risk of elimination.

In reaction to the win, McCreery exclaimed: “It felt like a dream. It still hasn’t sunk in yet, and I don’t think
it will for a while. I’m on top of the world right now.”

His victory is in keeping with the past four seasons of American Idol: He’s the fourth male in a row to win the Fox TV contest.

Watch Scotty McCreery win here: