For “American Idol” fans, it’s all about soul as gray-haired Taylor Hicks won the title tonight.

The 29-year-old Birmingham native defeated Katharine McPhee in the final week of the top-rated reality TV singing competition on Fox. Hicks becomes the second man and the second Birmingham resident to win the “Idol” crown, following Ruben Studdard’s victory over Clay Aiken in 2003.

“Soul Patrol!” said Hicks onstage at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. “I’m living the American dream. Thank you, Soul Patrol. Thank you, America. Thank you to the fans. Thank you to the American Idols.”

Hicks wins a recording contract and is expected to release his first single, “Do I Make You Proud,” by June. Hicks and McPhee received new cars during the telecast.

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McPheever vs. the Soul Patrol. It’s the final showdown on “American Idol,” with Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks against Los Angeles’ Katharine McPhee. Each picked two favorites from earlier rounds, then sang new singles. Who won the hearts and minds of the audience in the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood … and more importantly, the audience across America?

Recap after the jump …

Updated with audio, video.

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It’s the final showdown on “American Idol.” If you want to join fans of Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks, you have a few options for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Updated with important info on Wednesday’s BJCC party.

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Taylor Hicks will compete on “American Idol” for the last time Tuesday night. But during months of competition, the Birmingham native has stood out for more than just his singing voice.

We present the Top 10 Taylor Hicks moments from this season.

(Sorry for the downtime, but a bonus video is on the jump.)

Back up on GoFish.com.

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Katharine McPhee took time Friday to talk with reporters via teleconference from Hollywood during the final week of “American Idol.” The 22-year-old Los Angeles native faces off for the crown in the reality TV competition Tuesday night against Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks. Hicks praised his competitor as a “great friend” and a “very talented girl.”

A few highlights from her interview:

• Plans for her first CD

I definitely want to do a pop kind of an album, with bluesy sounds to it, soulful stuff along the lines of Joss Stone. And I love Norah Jones. It could be a collaboration of those things, a jazzy feel that’s also bluesy and contemporary, something that could be in the Top 40.

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You may have heard about a movie based on a best-selling book about a religious mystery that spans the globe and brings new understanding to humanity and the world beyond.

Well, it’s not coming to Birmingham.

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Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks took time today to talk with reporters via teleconference from Hollywood during the final week of “American Idol.” His competitor, Katharine McPhee, spoke earlier to the media. A few highlights:

• The next album

I would like it to be a really good representation of who I am as an artist. There’s gonna be some things I want to do creatively that I’ve never been able to get to do before “American Idol.” Possibly a little bit cutting edge — there are some things in my mind that would be cutting-edge music.

I just want really good songs. If I can feel it, it doesn’t matter if I wrote it or somebody else.

There’s a couple of albums that I’ve done before “American Idol” that I’m very proud of. I would like to re-release on a bigger scale, possibly re-record.

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The power of three was unleashed tonight on “American Idol”: three songs, three contestants, three phone numbers. Record mogul Clive Davis helped the judges pick the songs, while the singers finished with their own choices.

Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks put on some soulful showstoppers, looking like a lock with Katharine McPhee for the finals next week.

Recap after the jump …

Updated with video, elimination.

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Taylor Hicks received an Idol’s welcome on Friday.

The Birmingham native spent the day in town visiting with family, giving interviews and receiving gifts from city and state officials. The same day, Katharine McPhee visited her high school in Los Angeles and Elliott Yamin led a parade and took batting practice in Richmond, Va.

Tonight, all three resume competition for the title of “American Idol.”

But before Hicks takes the stage, let’s take another look at his whirlwind hometown visit. Plenty of photos and video after the jump.

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Art on the Rocks, July 2005

When 3,000 young professionals gather tonight in Birmingham, they’ll be ready to party with Ivan Neville’s new band, drink cocktails and mingle with 20- and 30somethings. They’ll dine on gourmet appetizers and taking part in a scavenger hunt to win a painting. Even “American Idol” finalist Taylor Hicks will be dropping by.

This isn’t a trendy Lakeview nightclub holding its grand opening. This is a museum.

Launched in April 2005, Art on the Rocks is an after-hours monthly party at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Its runaway success has inspired city arts organizations to pursue young professionals for their cachet and their cash. The movement is transforming the arts scene and the way companies view this hot demographic group.

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The Soul Man is heading home.

Not to worry. Birmingham native Taylor Hicks advanced to the final three this week on “American Idol,” facing a singing showdown with Katharine McPhee and Elliott Yamin for the title to be announced May 24.

But before the competition resumes Tuesday, the finalists are making promotional stops in their respective hometowns Friday. Yamin returns to Richmond, Va., and McPhee, well, she’s stuck in her hometown of Los Angeles.

Updated schedule.

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Redneck zombies are coming to redecorate your living room.

In blood.

“Hide and Creep,” the 2004 horror comedy, will air at 6 p.m. Thursday on Sci Fi. The movie, filmed around Birmingham, premiered at Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival and now makes its television debut.

And I’m telling you this, not because I’m in it as an unpaid extra, and not because I’m paid to do PR for the flick, but because it’s the best redneck zombie horror comedy you’ll ever see.

But don’t take my somewhat biased word for it: Join us at Base Camp on Southside for a viewing party in which the undead shall rise and receive drink specials.

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The “American Idol” final four took a roadtrip to Graceland to prepare to become Elvis impersonators for a night. Along the way, they met Priscilla Presley and record exec Tommy Mottola (but no fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, sad). Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks took on two classics … with mixed results.

Recap after the jump …

Updated with video, elimination.

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Five finalists fight it out with an “American Idol” Tuesday twofer, a song from birth year and from current charts. And Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks shows his playful side and his soulful side in songs older than most of the audience.

Recap after the jump …

Updated with audio, elimination.

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Whether it’s a (fictional) neighborhood bar in Boston or a gay bar in rural Mississippi, sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name.

That’s the refrain of “Small Town Gay Bar,” a documentary that premiered in January at Sundance. The film looks at such bars past and present, and the colorful characters who frequent these joints. Heart and humor carry the story, as we witness the challenges from indifferent — and often intolerant — Southern communities.

The movie kicked off Birmingham Shout Friday night to a sold-out house at WorkPlay.

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