<P> The eighth season of American Idol premiered on January 13 , 2009 , and concluded on May 20 , 2009 . Judges Simon Cowell , Paula Abdul , and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show 's contestants , along with Ryan Seacrest as host . The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol panel . It was also Abdul 's final season as a judge . Kris Allen , a native of Conway , Arkansas , was announced the winner of the competition on May 20 , 2009 , defeating runner - up Adam Lambert after nearly 100 million votes . Kris Allen is the only married winner of the competition at the time of his victory . This was the second season where both of the final two contestants had been in the bottom three or two at least once before the finale , with the first being season three . </P>
<P> The eighth season of American Idol premiered on January 13 , 2009 , and concluded on May 20 , 2009 . Judges Simon Cowell , Paula Abdul , and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show 's contestants , along with Ryan Seacrest as host . The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol panel . It was also Abdul 's final season as a judge . Kris Allen , a native of Conway , Arkansas , was announced the winner of the competition on May 20 , 2009 , defeating runner - up Adam Lambert after nearly 100 million votes . Kris Allen is the only married winner of the competition at the time of his victory . This was the second season where both of the final two contestants had been in the bottom three or two at least once before the finale , with the first being season three . </P>
who won the 8th season of american idol
who won the 8th season of american idol
Kris Allen
Kris Allen