A gracious “Idol” runner-up Crystal Bowersox: “Lee’s got a light inside of him that’s just brilliant and pure”

By Greg Hernandez

hollywoodnews.com: As I watched Crystal Bowersox holding her own with Alanis Morrisette, Joe Crocker and anyone else she shared the stage with last night on American Idol, I knew that whatever the results were, this is an artist I love.

What I also love about Crystal is that she is a class act who was quite gracious about finishing as runner up (she was robbed!) and optimistic about the future.

“I’m happy no matter what happens,” she tells Entertainment Weekly. “I’ve got good friends, good family, amazing fans, and my son’s healthy. I really have no complaints in the world.

She says winner Lee DeWyze is her buddy: “He’s hilarious. He’s got good jokes, he’s talented, he sings well. Lee’s got a light inside of him that’s just brilliant and pure. He’s been humble through this whole thing. He’s never once said “I think I’m going to win.” He’s genuine. He’s just completely genuine, and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy, so I’m happy for him.”

What viewers did not know was that on the morning of Tuesday night’s finale, Crystal and her boyfriend broke up. “Big Tony,” as he is called, had been in the audience for just about every show this season.

“He went home,” Crystal told Ryan Seacrest on his radio show this morning. “He wasn’t cool with the lifestyle.”