American Idol (season 8) American Idol (season 8) The eighth season of "American Idol" premiered on January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show's contestants, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the "Idol" panel. It was also Abdul's final season as a judge. Kris Allen, a native of Conway, Arkansas, was announced the winner of the competition on May 20, 2009, defeating runner-up Adam Lambert after nearly 100 million votes. This was the second season where both of the final
Peter Jackson (judge) Peter Jackson (judge) Sir Peter Arthur Brian Jackson, PC (born 9 December 1955), styled The Rt Hon Lord Justice Jackson, is an English Appeal Court judge. Previously he was a High Court Judge assigned to the Family Division. Jackson was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1978 and became a Queen's Counsel in 2000. He was subsequently appointed as a Recorder in 1998, a Deputy High Court Judge in 2003 and a High Court Judge with effect from 1 October 2010. Referring to his work as a barrister (not as a judge), Chambers & Partners described Jackson