In case 2010 American Idol winner Lee DeWyze‘s year hasn’t been exciting enough, the singer, 25, is now engaged to model/actress Jonna Walsh, 26. Somehow, Lee managed to make the most magical place on earth, Disney World in Orlando, Fla. , even more magical by popping the question on a private yacht under the park’s fireworks show July 16!

Lee spilled all the details on his fairy tale romance in an interview with People magazine.

“Jonna is a Disney freak,” Lee said, “They were playing love songs on the boat and I got down on my knee and asked her. I had a speech prepared but it all went out the window so I just asked her. She started crying and I said, ‘Is that a yes?’”

Aww! The pair plan to wed in the fall of 2012.

Lee seemed to have an instant attraction to the beauty when they met last October while he was shooting a video for his single, “Sweet Serendipity.” “We were casting and I saw her and said, ‘Let’s go with her.’,” said Lee, “I thought she was cute.”

But every relationship has it’s problems, right? “We hung out and we went to a Lakers game on our first date. She’s a Lakers fan and I’m a Chicago Bulls fan and we just clicked out of the gate,” said Lee.

And when asked how he feels about his fiancée rooting against his beloved Bulls? “We’re seeing a counselor about that,” Lee joked.

The two have only been dating eight months, but the only thing Lee questioned before getting down on one knee was what ring to choose! For that, he enlisted Jonna’s sister two months earlier.

“When you know, you know,” he said, “We both feel that way. We don’t need to be together 20 years before we figure it out.”

It may have been a big year for Lee, but don’t think he’s letting his career get in the way of spending time with his fiancée! “We do all sorts of things together,” said Lee, “We go to plays and exhibits and Jonna is really into the planning for the wedding.”

Congrats to the happy couple!

Alli Holt

While in the audience for last night’s American Idol, I saw who the judges like the most and who doesn’t like the judges! Plus, I now have a man crush on the Black Eyed Peas!

At the American Idol stages, you are bound to see almost anything, so when I took my seat, I was excited for the night to start and to see the Black Eyed Peas. Last month, when I saw them at the Super Bowl, I got my first taste of them live and last night they didn’t disappoint during the performance of their new song, “Just Can’t Get Enough.” Everyone at home saw the flawless performance on TV, but they actually pre-taped the performance and it took them twice to get the song in the can, as they were stopped mid-performance because of an Idol tech problem.

At that point, I thought someone from the band would be upset and possibly have a DIVA moment, but all of them laughed it off and started all over again, to the delight of the 700 plus fans in attendance. Everyone was talking about the performance and was looking forward to the replay during the live telecast.

Something else people were looking forward to was screaming their love and devotion for Idol judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. Even Ryan Seacrest got some love from eager screaming fans. The judges were in bright spirits and gave a wave right back to anyone who greeted them. Sadly, one person who got little love was long-time judge and producer, Randy Jackson. I almost felt bad for Randy — he was looking for his shout out that never even came. It wasn’t embarrassing or anything, but I did notice it.

The rest of the show was pretty much predictable. When reigning American Idol Lee DeWyze performed, the Idol hopefuls were jamming along. Only one person seemed not to care much about the performance. Jacob Lusk wasn’t bobbing his head along to the music, and even joked with Paul McDonald that the performance was, “Just all right!”

Randy Jackson made sure to hug Lee after a pretty great rendition of his single, “Beautiful Like You,” and have a quick reconnection of sorts.

Randy and Lee weren’t the only ones to have a special connection. Jennifer Lopez obviously loves everything that Stefano does, so after the show was done, she b-lined it to give him her first hug. Of course, he was beaming as they embraced. I would be excited too!

There you have it, HollywoodLifers – my complete behind-the-scenes report. What did YOU think of the results show last night? Did you love seeing Lee DeWyze back on the Idol stage? What do you think of Stefano and J. Lo’s undeniable connection? Sound off below!

Russ Wekland

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Splashnews.com

The reigning American Idol champ unveiled his video for the first single off his debut album Nov. 16. Do YOU think the Idol everyman missed the mark or hit a homerun?

First comes the confetti shower, then comes the tour, and finally…here comes the album! American Idol season nine champ Lee DeWyze released his album Live it Up today, but not before charming the pants off a cute girl in the video for his first single “Sweet Serendipity.”

The “aw-shucks” adorable attitude that Lee, 24, used to help him win season nine of American Idol is full force in the video for “Sweet Serendipity.” When he looks at the camera with those big blue eyes and sideways smirk while crooning out that he’s “doin’ just fine,” you believe him.

But that’s all the video really is. Just fine. The storyline involving Lee and a pretty brunette is a really sweet idea in theory, but the split screen feels awkward in some spots. At times, he’s leaving clues for his lady, and then in the next shot, she’s passing an umbrella to him through the split screen. Confusing? Kind of. A cute concept, but it jumped around too much for my liking and wasn’t executed like I hoped when the video started out.

The good news? Lee looks and sounds great in the performance sequences, and I approve of the video’s “he’s just a regular dude” theme (with the jeans and jacket combo and the modest apartment setting). Plus, it has a happy, albeit cheesy ending, which is what his teen girl demographic will want.

BOTTOM LINE? It’s bit of a bland video debut, but it doesn’t stray from who Lee has set out to be as an artist: a mellow dude writing songs on his guitar. Plus, he looks cute.

Check out the video for “Sweet Serendipity” below and pick up Lee’s debut album Live it Up in stores now!

–Jenna Mullins

This American Idol runner-up isn’t being hasty with her decision to marry a new guy just four months after splitting from Tony Kusian in May — she’s known the guy forever!

When Crystal Bowersox announced that she was engaged to new boyfriend Brian Walker just four months after publicly splitting with Tony Kusian during last season’s American Idol finale, we did a double take. However, the 25-year-old singer doesn’t move as quickly as we thought — she revealed that he’s been in her life forever!

“He’s a great man,” Crystal gushed to HollywoodLife.com exclusively of Brian before the Pinktober kick-off party with HER idol, Melissa Etheridge, at Hollywood’s Hard Rock Cafe. “We go way back — he’s been my best friend for a very long time,” she added.

However, the dreadlocked songbird who lost the Idol title to Lee DeWyze last season, sniffs at the suggestion that she’s moving too fast. “It’s so funny, because we’re not really engaged,” she declared, waving her ringless fingers. “We’re just getting married.”

One thing is for certain, at least: Brian is going to be a great dad to her 1 1/2 year old son, Tony. “He’s a great father,” she told us fiercely. “He’s a great father.”

Laura Schreffler & Nicole Fukuoka

Courtesy of FOX

The folky crooner plans to tie the knot next month with her boyfriend of just a few months!

She may not have won the big prize on American Idol, but Crystal Bowersox has something to celebrate about now — she’s getting married! People reports, “Crystal Bowersox, the American Idol runner-up, is engaged to musician Brian Walker and they plan to tie the knot next month.” Congratulations!

Crystal broke up with her former boyfriend just hours before her finale performance on Idol, where she eventually finished behind Lee DeWyze.

This will be the first marriage for the 25-year-old singer who has 1-year-old son Tony from a previous relationship.

Courtesy of Fox

Some claim without Simon Cowell, American Idol is out of touch and no longer relevant…but teaming up with Myspace might be a match made in critics heaven!

If you want to be the next Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood or Lee Dewyze you can start your dreams over the Internet! Instead of staying overnight in a random parking lot of a random city, you can now create a 40-second video submission highlighting your star performance.

The contest — which runs until Oct. 6 — takes entries from a handful of songs such as Bill Withers‘ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Keith Urban‘s “Kiss a Girl” and Barry Manilow‘s “Copacabana.” A select few contestants will move on to Los Angeles for a more traditional tryout. Both American Idol & Myspace are owned by News Corp, and this is being used as a way to drum up business for the struggling social-networking website.

Will YOU be trying out for your chance at world-wide pop fame?

The Season 9 contestants react to the shift in the judging panel but remain sure the show will go on!

Next season’s judging panel for American Idol may be up in the air, with Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, and Kara DioGuardi out, rumored to be replaced by names including Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, and Jessica Simpson, but last season’s contestants feel like the show will go on no matter what! Former contestant Lee DeWyze told HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY, “I don’t think anyone is going to ruin the show, the show is going to be successful as long as people are doing there own thing and not trying to copy anyone else, they’ll be fine.” And everyone else seems to agree!

Michael Lynche echoed Lee’s statement, saying, “Well I think this season coming up has a chance to be really special because its going to be so new, I think people are going to be very interested to see who these judges are and how they are going to interact and mesh. It’s going to be a great year. I think it will be a great year. Just like last year with all the rumors that Paula wasn’t going to be there and that it was going to be Simon’s last year.”

As for how big of an impact Simon’s departure will have, Katie Stevens told us, “Well Simon did play a big role but I think a lot of people will watch to see the different dynamic to see how it is going to be, and I think if they have a couple judges that they are talking about then they are not going to have an issue. A lot of things for the show are going to change but I think people are going to watch because they are going to be interested to see what happens.”

Among the celebs former contestants hope to see take over the judges chairs, Didi Benami picked Jennifer Lopez while Katie called the possibility of having Elton John be a judge, “awesome!”

What do you think HollywoodLifers, will Idol stand a chance with the new judging panel?

-reporting by Russ Weakland

I’m already cringing. How can Lee possibly compare to Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood or David Cook?

Singing the national anthem at the NBA Finals is a long-running American Idol tradition — and one that I’ve loved to watch. But how can this year’s winner, Lee DeWyze, top fellow #1’s Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, David Cook or even Kris Allen?

I keep expecting Lee to grow on me, but he hasn’t. His cover of U2’s “Beautiful Day” is just plain bad. And yes, I expect you Lee Lovers to attack me on that statement — go right ahead.

Click here to view the embedded video.

So when the 24-year-old Mount Prospect, Illinois native warbles the Star-Spangled Banner prior to Game 2 of the NBA Finals at the Staples Center in LA June 6, I’m sure I’ll be less than enchanted — but at least I won’t be disappointed. I already know what to expect.

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