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
Perry B. Jackson NAACP, the Cleveland Area Church Federation, Goodwill Industries and the Boy Scouts of America. A scholarship in his name continues to assist Zanesville High School graduates with their college expenses. Perry B. Jackson Judge Perry B. Jackson (27 January 1896 - 20 March 1986) was Ohio's first elected judge who was African American . Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Judge Jackson was sworn in as judge in the State of Ohio in 1942. He served Cleveland and Cuyahoga County for 44 years before his death in 1986. Jackson married Fern Josephine Payne (d. 1983) in 1933. They had no children. Jackson