By Alabama Public Radio
Hollywood, CA – More than 60 million votes were cast for this week's American Idol final, and Birmingham's Taylor Hicks was crowned the winner Wednesday night. Katharine McPhee of Los Angeles was the runner up in the fifth season of the show. Hicks is known for chanting "Soul Patrol," which is a reference to his core group of fans here in Alabama, and that's what he shouted when he was announced as the winner. Hicks got a new car and a recording contract. He's 29 years old, and he's the third Birmingham-area singer to either win the American Idol contest or make it to the finals. Reuben Studdard won season two, and Bo Bice was the runner up last year.