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THE GRAY POP STAR

The 29-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama, with his unlikely mop of prematurely gray hair, said he wanted to travel back home to his legions of Soul Patrol fans, whom he thanked onstage the moment he won on Wednesday night.­

Then, he added, he wants to record a “really good” album, “with soul.”­

“I'm heading to the studio as quickly as I can,” he said. “But I'll take a few days off to clear my head.”­

And he would love to tour with younger R&B and rock artists such as John Legend and John Mayer, said Hicks, whose victory earned him a recording contract and a new car.­

Hicks, who beat out sultry brunette Katharine McPhee, 22, of Los Angeles, credited his win in part to “a love for music.”­

It also helped, he said, that he sang after McPhee did during Tuesday night's head-to-head competition.­

The show's fifth and best-rated edition yet took a leap in stature on Wednesday when Prince, Mary J. Blige and other big names performed during the finale. The series has given big boosts to the album sales of pop stars who have appeared on it.­

Hicks, the latest in a string of Southern and Midwestern contestants to win the contest, leaned over in an emotional reaction when host Ryan Seacrest announced his victory.­

Last season's victor, Carrie Underwood, opened the finale, joining Hicks and McPhee on I Made It Through the Rain and later soloing on Don't Forget to Remember Me.­

On Tuesday, Underwood won two trophies at the Academy of Country Music Awards, underscoring how much an Idol victory can mean. She was named top new female artist and won best single for Jesus Take the Wheel.­

Other pairings of contestants and stars on the Idol finale included Paris Bennett and Al Jarreau; McPhee and Meat Loaf; Chris Daughtry and Live; Elliott Yamin and Blige; Hicks and Toni Braxton, and the dozen finalists with Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick.­

Prince was a surprise final performer, taking the stage for two songs, including Satisfied — and without an Idol contestant alongside.­

Backstage McPhee said she had not expected to win but would be releasing a single anyway. “I don't need sad faces or anyone to feel bad for me. I have got a record deal, pretty much. It wasn't about winning the title, I just wanted to give the best performance I could,” she said.