Silver-haired Birmingham, Ala., native Taylor Hicks was crowned Fox TV's "American Idol" before an estimated 200 million Fox TV viewers Wednesday night.

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The majority of the 64.3 million voters chose Hicks' blue-eyed rock 'n' soul sound over the classically trained style of Los Angeles resident Katharine McPhee.

McPhee, 22, studied a semester at the Boston Conservatory while Hicks, 29, honed his voice singing bar gigs.

Judge Simon Cowell predicted the outcome of the talent competition, telling Hicks after his Tuesday night performance before a packed house at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre, "You have just won 'American Idol.'"

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