And your 2010 American Idol is...

Well, you all know it now. Lee Dewyze is the official American Idol. We, as the AFF team here, are pretty split down the middle on this one. Some wanted Crystal, some were pulling for Lee, and some were rooting for both (to the point where it didn't really matter who won anymore, I mean, we all know they are BOTH going to be recording albums). This leads me to, my question I want to pose: Is it better to win Idol or to be runner-up? Automatic album is good of course, but how much control do these Idol winners get over their own sound? It is hard to say. Many break away shortly after to do their own thing. So let's hear your thoughts on the big finale last night.

Nashville Rising: A Benefit Concert

June 22nd the stars will align, and I'm not talking about Ursa Major and Minor, I'm talking everyone's favorite country stars. Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn and Miley Cyrus are among the artists who will perform at a benefit to assist victims of the middle Tennessee flooding. The benefit was organized by McGraw and Hill and will benefit the Community Foundation which provides philanthropic services that enhance the Middle Tennessee area. Also featured at the event at Bridgestone Arena (formerly Sommet Center (formerly Gaylord Arena)) will be artists like Luke Bryan, Amy Grant, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes and Michael W. Smith.

Tickets go on sale May 14th at 10am on ticketmaster.com and range from $25-$75. Visit nashvillerising.org for more information!

Betty White Boosts SNL

This weekend, over 510,000 facebook fans got their wish as 88 year-old Betty White hosted Saturday Night Live. It all started with a group called "Betty White to Host SNL (please?)!" on this popular social networking site and it ended in a victory for NBC and facebookers nationwide. Saturday Night Live picked up a rating of 8.8, the highest rating for the show in 18 MONTHS! The highest since the always popular pre-presidental election.

Jay-Z was brought in as the musical guest, so there was not a dull moment throughout the show. Jay even dedicated his performance of his latest hit, Young Forever to the "Most Incredible Betty White".

Betty kept the audience on the edge of their seats from the very beginning with help from an entourage of former SNL lady favorites Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch and Maya Rudolph.

Next week, this season closes with host Alec Baldwin and musical guest Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. We'll see if they can top last week's 8.8 rating....(I'll bet against it)

-JAI

"I Gotta Feeling" It Broke A Record

The Black Eyed Peas slide into the number one spot, declaring their hit single, " I Gotta Feeling" the #1 most digitally downloaded song of all-time. With over 5.56 million downloads, this single just slipped past Flo Rida's "Low" (5.53 million downloads) to claim the top spot.

Flo Rida has enjoyed holding down the #1 most downloaded spot since March 2008, when it passed Soulja Boy Tell'em's 2007 hit "Crank That."

The BEP are not only sitting pretty at #1, but their song "Boom Boom Pow" from the same record is in fourth place with 5.29 million downloads.

So the current top five most downloaded songs of all time are:

1. I Gotta Feeling: Black Eyed Peas (5,561,000)
2. Low: Flo Rida (5,536,000)
3. Just Dance: Lady Gaga (5,364,000)
4. Boom Boom Pow: Black Eyed Peas (5,298,000)
5. Poker Face: Lady Gaga (5,131,000)

So it looks like if you're planning on making it into the top five one of these days, you better write a song with some thumping bass, a heavy beat and a catchy, repetitive chorus.

-JAI