The battle of the Davids is over and David Cook emerges as winner, beating out David Archuleta in the season finale of American Idol 7 on May 21, 2008. David Cook, winner of 2008 American Idol 7 Season Finale.

Twenty-five-year-old rocker David Cook won the coveted title of “American Idol” on Wednesday, dealing an unexpected defeat to a silken-voiced teenager, also named David, on the most popular U.S. television show.

Cook, who was bartending and playing in a band before he auditioned for the singing competition, stood back to applaud rival David Archuleta and then bent over crying after host Ryan Seacrest announced the results of the hit show on News Corp’s Fox TV network.

“This is amazing. Thank you,” he said.

In its seventh season, “American Idol” has grown from a cheesy summer talent show into a pop culture phenomenon that draws millions of viewers twice a week. It has produced mega-stars from both its winners and losers, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry.

Cook beat 17-year-old Archuleta in a contest that was decided by a telephone and text messaging vote in which a record 97.5 million votes were cast. Cook received 56 percent of the vote to Archuleta’s 44 percent.

Source: Rocker David Cook wins “American Idol”

See also:

• Live Blog: American Idol Results Show – And The Winner Is…David Cook
• David Climbs to the Top of American Idol
• ‘American Idol’ Finale Red Carpet: Simon Cowell Apologizes To David Cook; OneRepublic Wonder What They’re Doing There
• Cowell calls “Idol” final a “knockout” for Archuleta but was it?

Photo credit: Reuters

Here is video of the concluding moments of 2008 American Idol Season 7 Finale – After his win David Cook performs “Time of My Life”

David Cook & ZZ Top perform “Sharp Dressed Man”

David Archuleta & One Republic perform “Apologize”

David Cook and David Archuleta perform “Hero”

Video & Photos: American Idol Winner David Cook – American Idol 7 Season Finale 5-21-08