Born in Mount Prospect, Illinois, United States, Leon James “Lee” DeWyze Jr. is the eldest son of Leon “Lee” DeWyze Sr. and Kathleen Donahue DeWyze. Lee Sr. worked as a postal carrier in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.
Lee Jr. has two older sisters namely Shannon DeWyze and Sarah DeWyze and a younger brother named Michael DeWyze. Lee Jr. attended St. James Catholic Elementary School in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
When Lee Jr. was a senior student at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Illinois, he was expelled because of his involvement in many fights. He then transferred to Forest View Alternative School in Arlington Heights.
On April 2, 2010, Lee Jr. turned 24. On May 26, 2010, he won the ninth season of “American Idol“.
Runner-up to Lee Jr. was Crystal Bowersox. Born in Elliston, Ohio, USA, she turned 24 on August 4, 2009.
Bowersox has a twin brother named Karl Bowersox. Their parents William Lester Bowersox and Kelly Lynn Bowlander Bowersox divorced in 1987.
Crystal went to Oak Harbor High School in Oak Harbor, Ohio and the Toledo School for the Arts in Toledo, Ohio. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1991 and she performed her first professional gig in 1995.
In 2002, Crystal moved to Chicago, Illinois where she played music as a busker at train stations. In 2006, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs selected her to represent Chicago folk musicians in the Sister Cities program “Experience Chicago” held in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom.
“American Idol” Season 9
- singing competition: “American Idol“
- season: 9
- television network: Fox
- dates: January 12, 2010 – May 26, 2010
- judges: Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi, Randy Jackson
- host: Ryan Seacrest
| PLACEMENT | SINGER |
| Winner | Lee DeWyze |
| 1st runner-up | Crystal Bowersox |
| 3rd | Casey James |
| 4th | Michael Lynche |
| 5th | Aaron Kelly |
| 6th | Siobhan Magnus |
| 7th | Tim Urban |
| Top 9 | Andrew Garcia Katie Stevens |
| 10th | Didi Benami |
| 11th | Paige Miles |
| 12th | Lacey Brown |
| Top 16 | Alex Lambert Katelyn Epperly Lilly Scott Todrick Hall |
| Top 20 | Haeley Vaughn Jermaine Sellers John Park Michelle Delamor |
| Top 24 | Ashley Rodriguez Janell Wheeler Joe Muñoz Tyler Grady |
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