Season 3 "Voice" winner Cassadee PopeCassadee Pope started off Season 3 of "The Voice" as a pop-punk singer, a Warped Tour veteran with an Avril Lavigne fetish and a background as the frontgirl for the Pete Wentz-championed Decaydence Records band Hey Monday. But she ended the season as her mentor Blake Shelton's country protégé, singing songs by Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, and Miranda Lambert.

On her debut single, "Wasting All These Tears," Cassadee combines both of these elements. The song is definitely reminiscent of Avril's power ballads ("I'm With You," "My Happy Ending," "Keep Holding On"), but it has a certain Nashville twang. Have a listen:

photo: Ray Mickshaw/FoxSeason 8 "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert dueted on Thursday night's "Idol" finale with third-place finalist Angie Miller, in what was arguably the finest performance of the entire show. That was Angie's moment, her time to shine…but afterwards, when Reality Rocks caught up with Adam backstage, it was time to talk about his own music.

photo: Ray Mickshaw/FoxEver wonder why the winners REALLY cry at the "American Idol" finale? I think it's because they often have to release "I Believe a Moment Like This is My Now and is the Time of My Life Because I'm Flying Without Wings Inside Your Heaven"-type pap as their first singles. I'd be bummed too.

It's too bad that almost every past coronation song has been such a piece of sentimental, Hallmark-y dreck, but some have been more listenable than others. So here's my ranking of the "Idol" coronation songs, from best to worst. Where does Candice Glover's "I Am Beautiful" fit in? Read on...

Was Mariah live, or was she Memorex? [photo: Fox]Mariah Carey is known as one of the greatest singers of all time. She was hired this year, for a whopping $18 million, to judge other singers on "American Idol." So when she gave a performance on Thursday night's "Idol" finale that seemed more appropriate for another talent show, "RuPaul's Drag Race" — that is, she appeared to be lip-synching for her life — well, it was not a tour de force, dahling.