The new "American Idol" is Lee DeWyze, a paint store clerk who overcame his shyness and prevailed over soulful Crystal Bowersox in the singing contest's ninth season.

Host Ryan Seacrest said on yesterday's finale that the 24-year-old DeWyze of Mount Prospect, Ill., edged Bowersox, also 24, of Toledo, Ohio, in viewer votes cast after Tuesday's performance show.

Although Bowersox drew higher praise from the judges for her performance this week, the panel had reaffirmed its respect for DeWyze's talent and his character — and the audience agreed. He'll release a single, "Beautiful Day."

Yesterday's finale also marked the departure of judge Simon Cowell, walking down memory lane through film clips, a parody song by Dane Clark and the return of ex-judge Paula Abdul.

NELSON LOSES HIS LONG, SIGNATURE LOCKS

Country music fans have come to expect a little eccentricity from legendary crooner Willie Nelson, but he pulled off a real shocker this time.

He cut his hair.

Nelson's waist-long, reddish pigtails have been one of the singer-songwriter's signature features. But spokeswoman Elaine Schock said Nelson, who's been hanging loose in Hawai'i, got his hair cut in the past couple of weeks. She said the Texas-born performer didn't make a big fuss about the makeover, but she thought he might have grown tired of dealing with long locks.

"There's a lot of maintenance," she said.

WINFREY'S ANGEL NETWORK NEARS END

Oprah Winfrey's charity, The Angel Network, is shutting down as her talk show draws to a close.

The network stopped accepting donations this week and said on its website that it plans to dissolve as soon as its remaining funds are disbursed.

The Angel Network was launched in 1998 with donations from viewers of Winfrey's talk show; its demise stems from her decision to end her Chicago-based show in 2011.

The network's best-known projects included funding rebuilding efforts for Gulf Coast communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina and building 55 rural schools in 12 countries.

SUIT AGAINST BRADY'S BODYGUARDS DENIED

A New York judge has dismissed a lawsuit by two photographers who said they were shot at by bodyguards of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

The April 2009 incident occurred during a party in Costa Rica celebrating the couple's marriage two months previously.

EX-MAGAZINE CHIEF HEADS FOR HOLLYWOOD

Former Us Weekly editor Janice Min is the new editorial director at The Hollywood Reporter.

The announcement was made yesterday by Richard Beckman, chief executive of the 80-year-old entertainment trade paper.

Min helmed Us Weekly from 2003 to 2009 and doubled the magazine's circulation during her tenure.

— Advertiser News Services