Will American Idol Finale Be Best Ever?

Is the American Idol finale destined to be the best ever? Will we look back and wonder how so much talent took the stage for the 2011 American Idol finale or will be wondering what happened to Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina?
My gut feeling is that the coming week for American Idol will provide one of the highest ratings ever for the FOX show. And here's why.

Scotty McCreery versus Lauren Alaina pits two completely different kind of performers within one genre. Alaina, whose real name is Lauren Alaina Suddeth, is the girl next door who has been congratulated on many occasions by the judges for her pleasant tone of her voice. She is an incredibly polished performer and she makes everything look so effortless every night. There's something about Alaina that makes you feel very comfortable and at ease.

Then you have the often modest Scotty McCreery. McCreery has gained confidence throughout the 2011 American Idol season but it's clear he is still a modest guy. His Don Williams meets Randy Travis meets Josh Turner persona has been nothing short of amazing. And the fact that it isn't an act and it's kind of who the guy is might just be the most incredible factor in his rise during American Idol this season.

Either way, American Idol will pit two future country greats against one another. In the end, both will establish great music careers because of their popularity from the show. But both will maintain those careers because of their incredible talent level. Country music is dying to get these guys on board and country music fans are eagerly awaiting to see what they release.

The funny thing about Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery is they rarely show their youth. The two are completely polished and ready from a performance standpoint for bigger and better things. You just get this feeling you are watching a live performance on the Country Music Awards when you listen to a live performance from Alaina or McCreery. Country music fans have to be thrilled the 2011 American Idol finale will pit two country artists against one another. Country music has to also be thrilled with the voting that has led to such a finale. It speaks volumes for how integrated country music is into the overall music scene these days. We've seen cross over artists like Taylor Swift keep country music in the spotlight the last few years. Now Alaina and McCreery are helping keep country music mainstream--as if it probably needed help anyway.

The genre is benefiting from 2011 American Idol season in many ways. People who weren't that interested in country music will be tuning in to the finale to see what happens. I am not sure how anyone can walk away from the show as a viewer without being a fan of at least one of the two gifted performers. So country music will undoubtedly gather more fans when this season is done.

Will it be the best American Idol finale ever? It certainly will be for country music fans. I can't imagine any other season would hold a candle-with the exception of the Carrie Underwood year. The 2011 American Idol finale will provide fans of country a chance to see a CMA type performance from each of the young artists. Hopefully, it will also bring new fans to the genre in the process. Either way, the live performances on the finale are nearly guaranteed to be top notch.
And it really doesn't matter who walks away with the win--although I've predicted Alaina several times, both are going to fit quite nicely in the country music scene.