SOUL SURVIVOR RUBEN NEWEST 'AMERICAN IDOL' WINNER.

Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer

In a battle of unlikely singing stars - a pair of 24-year-old Southern guys who don't do country - the ``American Idol'' crown went Wednesday to Ruben Studdard, the big R&B balladeer who made his hometown's 205 area code famous.

Following Tuesday's sing-off with the lanky, boyish Clay Aiken, the phone voting by viewers of Fox's hit talent series was remarkably close. In 24 million votes cast, Studdard won by a squeaky 130,000.

The majority of the 6,000 fans - and drivers of underage fans - at Universal Amphitheatre were in Aiken's camp early in the two-hour show. Many fans believe Clay out-sang Ruben on Tuesday. But all rose to their feet and cheered when Studdard's name was announced.

``I feel great,'' Studdard said, half laughing and half crying as silver and white confetti rained around him. Aiken hugged and applauded his friend and rival.

The finale show, a fun event for fans and certain ratings triumph for the network, was in reality anticlimactic. While the winner is assured an RCA Records contract with all the promotional trimmings, the company's chairman and CEO, Clive Davis, announced mid-show that he would be making a record with Aiken as well, and both projects already are under way.

The other finalists from this contest joined Studdard and Aiken for a few numbers, and the audience gave a standing ovation to the first ``American Idol'' winner, Kelly Clarkson, as she performed her new single ``Miss Independent.''

Davis then surprised Clarkson with the platinum album of ``Thankful,'' which debuted at No. 1 and in five weeks has sold 1.3 million copies.

In the days leading to the finale, passionate ``Idol'' watchers differed on who would win, many of them feeling certain Aiken would win but that Studdard was more deserving, or vice versa.

Before host Ryan Seacrest announced the outcome, the judges weighed in one last time.

``Listen to what your mamas told you,'' Paula Abdul offered, wagging her finger. ``Surround yourself with good people.''

``Talent won,'' Simon Cowell said. ``The big battle's coming. They're going to put out their records the same week.''

In Tuesday's sing-off, soul singer Studdard offered Burt Bacharach's ``A House Is Not a Home,'' John Lennon's ``Imagine'' and Westlife's ``Flying Without Wings,'' the last his reprise tune performed Wednesday night.

Studdard's massive girth has won him fans who are tired of TV images of trim bodies. But it also prompted Davis and other industry insiders to express concern that his weight could hinder his performing stamina.

His wearing of a ``205'' football jersey - the area code of Birmingham, Ala. - set up a mini fashion craze, with Web sites hawking duplicates and fans crafting their own versions.

Studdard, an unemployed former voice student and football player who was cheered Wednesday by close friends and family at his Rising Star church in Alabama, was still short of words when he met reporters backstage.

``I've dreamed of being in this place my whole life and I'm finally here,'' he said, adding that he intended to ``stay grounded.''

``Always be yourself,'' he said. ``I'll still be Ruben.''

Of course, regular Ruben now is attended by bodyguards and had a limousine waiting for him.

Aiken, from Raleigh, N.C., since January underwent a physical transformation from a geeky-looking redhead with glasses to a streaked blond with contacts. His reedy frame belied a powerful voice.

``I didn't get cut tonight - I just didn't win,'' he said philosophically backstage. He was pleased with Studdard's victory and his own newfound success. ``Ruben said to me, 'Can you believe us - the two most unlikely people - are in the finals together?'''

Aiken left his final impression on voting viewers with the original ``This Is the Night,'' ``Here, There and Everywhere'' by Paul McCartney and ``Bridge Over Troubled Water'' by Paul Simon, which he performed again Wednesday.

Aiken and Studdard emerged from a field of 70,000 hopefuls who went through the preliminary auditions. Most were sent packing with bruised egos and an admonition not to quit their day jobs.

The program was a blockbuster in its inaugural outing last summer, but higher overall TV viewership this spring and increased audience awareness have sent the numbers through the roof. Last summer's average, including the finale, was 12.7 million viewers, while this season had an average of 21.1 million - before the Tuesday sing-off and Wednesday's coronation of Studdard.

Fox is hoping for similar magic this summer with ``American Junior,'' a contest of kid singers premiering June 3. The next season of ``American Idol,'' a spinoff of Britain's ``Pop Idol,'' will begin in January 2004, with auditions to be held midsummer.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) ``American Idol'' winner Ruben Studdard of Birmingham, Ala., performs during Wednesday's finals.

(2 -- color) Runner up Clay Aiken smiles at ``American Idol'' winner Ruben Studdard on Wednesday. They'll both receive recording contracts.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press