The Next American Idol Is: Taylor Hicks.

Source: AccessNorthGA.Com

The winner of the fifth season American Idol is Taylor Hicks, and he is now closer to chasing that ever elusive "American Dream" of pop stardom.

More than 63 million votes were cast for last night's season finale of American Idol. Taylor with his "Soul Patrol" of loyal supporters grabs a recording contract, the chance for mega stardom, and now will tour with other American Idol finalists on the "American Idols Live Tour 2006".

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Taylor Hicks, the mop-topped manic dancer who wooed TV audiences with his raw singing style and boisterous personality, was named the new "American Idol" Wednesday in a pop star-filled finale that included Prince and Mary J. Blige.

Hicks, 29, of Birmingham, Ala., became the latest in a string of Southern and Midwestern contestants to win the Fox talent contest after collecting more viewer votes than runner-up Katharine McPhee, 22, of Los Angeles.

Hicks leaned over, overcome by host Ryan Seacrest's announcement.

"Soul Patrol!" he shouted, acknowledging his avid fans by their nickname. "I'm living the American dream," he added as he closed out the show with a performance of "Do I Make You Proud."

The Amercian Idol tour includes the following dates and locations:

DATE CITY VENUE ON SALE DATE
5-Jul Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
6-Jul Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
7-Jul Worcester, MA DCU Center Fri, May 19 10AM
8-July Worcester, MA DCE Center Fri, May 19 10AM
9-July Hartford, CT Hartford Civic Center Sat, May 20 10AM
11-July Albany, NY Pepsi Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
12-July Hershey, PA GIANT Center Sat, May 20 10AM
13-July E. Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
14-July E. Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
15-July Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum Sat, May 20 10AM
16-July Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum Sat, May 20 10AM
18-July Wilkes Barre, PA Wachovia Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
19-July Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center Sat, May 20 10AM
21-July Rochester, NY BlueCross Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
22-July Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center Sat, May 20 10AM
23-July Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall Sat, May 20 10AM
25-July Bridgeport, CT Arena at Harbor Yard Sat, May 20 10AM
27-July Pittsburgh, PA Mellon Arena Fri, May 19 10AM
28-July Washington, DC Verizon Center Sat, May 20 10AM
29-July Richmond, VA Richmond Coliseum Sat, May 20 10AM
30-July Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum Sat, May 20 10AM
1-Aug Charlotte, NC Charlotte Bobcats Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
2-Aug Columbia, SC Colonial Center Sat, May 20 10AM
3-Aug Duluth, GA Arena at Gwinnett Center Sat, May 20 10AM
5-Aug Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center Sat, May 20 10AM
6-Aug Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum Sat, May 20 10AM
8-Aug Birmingham, AL BJCC Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
10-Aug Nashville, TN Gaylord Entertainment Center Sat, May 20 10AM
11-Aug Columbus, OH Value City Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
12-Aug Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center Sat, May 20 10AM
13-Aug St. Louis, MO Savvis Center Sat, May 20 10AM
15-Aug Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
16-Aug Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
17-Aug Indianapolis, IN Indiana State Fairgrounds Fri, May 19 10AM
18-Aug Louisville, KY Freedom Hall Sat, May 20 10AM
19-Aug Chicago, IL Allstate Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
20-Aug Peoria, IL Peoria Civic Center Sat, May 20 10AM
22-Aug St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center Sat, May 20 11AM
25-Aug San Diego, CA ipayOne Center Sat, May 20 10AM
26-Aug Los Angeles, CA Staples Center Sun, May 21 Noon
27-Aug Anaheim, CA Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim Sun, May 21 Noon
29-Aug Sacramento, CA ARCO Arena Sat, May 20 10AM
30-Aug San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose Sat, May 20 10AM
1-Sep Portland, OR Rose Garden Sat, May 20 10AM
2-Sep Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome Sat, May 20 10AM
5-Sep Denver, CO Pepsi Center Sat, May 27
7-Sep Grand Prairie, TX Nokia at Grand Prairie Sat, May 27
8-Sep Grand Prairie, TX Nokia at Grand Prairie Sat, May 27
9-Sep Houston, TX Reliant Arena Sat, May 27
10-Sep Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center Sat, May 27
12-Sep Duluth, GA Arena at Gwinnett Center Sat, May 27
13-Sep Pittsburgh, PA tbd Sat, May 27
14-Sep Huntington, WV Big Sandy Superstore Arena Sat, May 27
15-Sep Norfolk, VA Constant Convocation Center Sat, May 27
16-Sep Reading, PA Sovreign Center Sat, May 27
17-Sep Syracuse, NY War Memorial at OnCenter Sat, May 27
19-Sep Hershey, PA GIANT Center Sat, May 27
21-Sep Portland, ME Cumberland County Civic Center Sat, May 27
22-Sep Providence, RI Dunkin Donuts Center Sat, May 27
23-Sep Bridgeport, CT Arena at Harbor Yard Sat, May 27
24-Sep Wilkes Barre, PA Wachovia Arena Sat, May 27
ALL SHOWS ARE 7:00PM SHOWTIMES EXCEPT FOR LOUISVILLE WHICH IS 8:00PM and INDIANAPOLIS WHICH IS 7:30PM.

Tags: [Mop-Topped Hicks Crowned 'American Idol'], [The Next American Idol Is: Taylor Hicks], [Taylor Hicks], [Katharine McPhee], [American Idol], [The Amercian Idol tour], [Soul Patrol], [Katharine vs. Taylor], [Carrie Underwood], [More than 63 million votes were cast]