Jordin Sparks Crowned American Idol Champ

Jordin Sparks was born singing according to her mother and on last Wednesday night the 17 year-old with the powerful voice was crowned “American Idol” on the hit television show of the same name.

The announcement that the Arizona teenager had beaten out Blake Lewis, 25, the beat-boxer from Washington, came at the end of a two-hour spectacle at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

"I've just been trying to top myself each week," Sparks told The Associated Press. "I would sing my song and after I was done I was like, `OK, what am I going to do next week that's going to be ... either just as good or better."

When her name was announced Sparks, sporting a designer gown and glamorous hair-do, looked shocked for a moment and then became effusive.

“Thank you so much for everything," she told the crowd. "Mom, Dad, I love you. Nana, Papa, P.J., thank you guys.” Then she broke into a rendition of "This Is My Now," the tune picked by viewers in a new online "American Idol" songwriting contest.

Sparks won a recording contract as part of her "Idol" prize, but Lewis hasn't yet secured a deal.