Broadway Idols Say Goodbye to Simon Cowell

It was an end of an era on American Idol as America said goodbye to Simon Cowell during the May 26 finale of season nine. The hard-to-please judge was celebrated throughout the night with greatest hits packages, but it was the live performance by former Idol winners and contestants that brought a tear to our eye, especially since we recognized so many of the performers lined up at the Nokia Theater. The Color Purple’s Fantasia Barrino and Grease’s Taylor Hicks, as winners, were featured singers alongside Broadway Idols Constantine Maroulis (Rock of Ages) and Hair co-stars Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young. We even got a taste of a Broadway star-to-be, season six winner Jordin Sparks, who begins performances as Nina in In the Heights this summer. It was a fitting farewell, made even more exciting by the Broadway representation. Thanks for memories (and the stars) Simon!