Norway’s Kurt Nilsen won the “World Idol” competition on Thursday when he triumphed in a singing competition with winners from 10 other nations.
“American Idol” Kelly Clarkson won second place, and Belgium’s Peter Everard came in third when the vote was announced on Britain’s ITV television following the New Year’s Day broadcast of the international singing competition.
“This is totally amazing,” said a thrilled and tearful Nilsen. “I love you guys,” he told the 10 other competitors.
The competitors are all winners of the first season of the “Idol” series in their respective countries.
Nilsen, a 25-year-old plumber, won the Norwegian version of “Pop Idol” in May. His single, “She’s So High,” went straight to No. 1 in the Norwegian singles chart and is the country’s biggest-selling single to date.
The young Norwegian won maximum points from nine of the 11 countries that voted in the contest for his rendition of the U2 track “Beautiful Day.”
Clarkson, a former Texas cocktail waitress, won the first American title in September 2002 and scored a No. 1 single with “A Moment Like This.”
Shows patterned after the original series, Britain’s “Pop Idol,” now are seen in more than 20 countries.