First, don’t blame Ryan Seacrest.
All he was doing was reading the card he was handed.
And the card said that out of 90 million votes cast, by a margin of 12 million votes, the winner was David Cook.
Granted, both Cook and Archuleta are world class talents who raised the bar on future competitions.
And both of them were deserving of the crown.
But as far as I’m concerned, neither of them are the new American Idol.
That honor goes to Ricky Nelson.
No, thanks for asking, I’m not living in the past and I didn’t overdo my Splenda ration in the morning coffee.
And yes, thanks for asking, I am fully aware that the handsome, sultry sounding, rock and roll icon, youngest son of Ozzie and Harriet has been dead for over twenty years now.
But Ricky gets my vote anyway.
His brother David would agree with me.
David Nelson says that Rick was incredibly determined. Once, he walked a mile holding two gallons of milk over his head because one of his brothers challenged him to." David also says that Rick used to poke fun at himself to make other people laugh.
And sing?
Well, we don’t really know do we?
Only his brother David would know about that.
Or his widow Kristen.
Wait a second, you say.
Rick and Kristen were divorced years before he died.
You’re right.
But that’s the thing about jumping to conclusions.
Sometimes what you find when you land isn’t what you were expecting when you took the leap.
Because I’m not talking about Eric Hilliard “Ricky” Nelson, the rock and roll icon from Los Angeles, Californnia.
I’m talking about Richard “Ricky” Nelson, the soldier from Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Brother of David Nelson.
Husband of Kristen Nelson.
Who died April 14th in Al Anbar, Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded.
One week before the first anniversary of his wedding to his high school sweetheart.
Ricky Nelson of Los Angeles’ memory will live on for years to come as new generations discover his remarkable singing talent.
Ricky Nelson of Kenosha’s memory will live on in the hearts of his family, having faded out of the headlines in the inevitable sooner or later.
David Cook is officially the new idol of millions.
And there is no denying his talent and humility.
The new American Idol, though, is Ricky Nelson.
And the thousands of Americans who risk their lives every day.
So that we might live another day to vote for our favorite singers.
If you would like to meet Ricky Nelson:
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