finally got up the nerve ot watch it and i am so moved.
i'm just bawling right now. i know he's going to go on to do great things with his music...i guess it's just the whole rags to riches story that touches my heart.

he calls himself a "knucklehead" before the show. he says he was still trying to figure out where to go and what to do with his life...now he's found his niche.

omg. i love that man. :D

I watched it yesterday evening and cried through the whole thing.
He is someone who earned and deserved it ALL, more than any other contestant in the top 12.

Heather
:music:

I watched it yesterday, and it really shows what a good guy he is! Every time he teared up, I did too! It was nice to hear him sound do happy about the way it all happened.

This was by far the most emotional heart rending exit interview ever on American Idol .

This amazing man has shared so much of who he is and what he feels with all of us and I think THAT is the real difference - we feel like we know him - and know him WELL , not just some frivolous facts like his favorite color is blue, his birth date , etc. - he has made a deep , emotional connection with us and that is the staying power of Elliott Yamin , along with that mesmerizing , hypnotic, goosebump-inducting voice , of course .

Has anyone ever feltl ike they REALLY knew a singer performer in such a deep personal, connected way ? Nope !

I don't think he knows how to be any other way, just love him to pieces! :rolleyes:

This was a very emotional thing to watch - I'm glad I watched it a few days ago during my "crying jag" and can now really believe that he is happy with how things turned out.

When he called himself a "knucklehead" that was so endearing!!!! What person his age actually uses that word? :D

You're SO right! He is who he is. His voice, the person he is, and that exit interview just give chills up my spine and tears in my eyes. He's one in a million, and regardless of AI, IS the real American Idol.