Survey: Crystal Bowersox Should Win “American Idol”

Dreadlocked singer Crystal Bowersox should be the next American Idol, according to a new study conducted by HCD Research after Tuesday night’s final performances.

In a national study of 3,901 American Idol viewers, Bowersox, 24, was selected as the contestant who should win American Idol this season based on her three performances last night. Bluesy darkhorse Lee DeWyze — a 24-year-old former paint shop employee — finished a distant second in the voting after losing some of the confidence that saw him overshadow Bowersox in recent weeks.

Bowersox received 66.2 percent of the votes, while Dewyze received 33.8.3 percent of the votes.

In a first for Idol, the new song unveiled in the finale as the winner’s first release was replaced this year by two different cover versions of existing songs — U2’s “Beautiful Day” for DeWyze and “Up to the Mountain” for Bowersox.

Also on tonight’s Idol finale, Simon Cowell will end his nine season run as the judge Americans love to hate on, with no word on who will fill his shoes.