When Ryan Seacrest announced that David Cook was the new "Idol," Utah's David Archuleta felt only one emotion: relief.

"Now we just get to do what we love to do without it being a competition," he said to reporters after the finale of the seventh season of "American Idol."

Cook, a 25-year-old rocker from Blue Springs, Mo., handily defeated Archuleta, receiving 56 percent of more than 97 1/2 million votes cast in what was dubbed "The Battle of the Davids." (By comparison, 122 million votes were cast in the 2004 presidential election.)

"The ride's been pretty nuts. You couldn't write this," Cook said during a news conference after the show. "The respect I have for David Archuleta is very much past the competitor thing. He has more talent at his age than I know what to do with at 25."

Hal and Janet Reiser, of Salt Lake City, left the theater disappointed that their hometown boy lost but glad that both finalists will ultimately forge music careers.

"They were both so good," said Janet Reiser, 50, who traveled with her husband to Los Angeles just to see the show (they got tickets online 10 weeks ago). "But what makes me feel so bad is that they can't both win."

Fellow "Archies" Caroline Paulson, 16, and Katharine Redoglia, 14, both of San Diego, said the coastal California city is loaded with Archuleta fans who will be disappointed.

"I'm sad because he has an amazing voice, and he has that talent being so young," said Caroline.

Cook's win, the result of a record number of votes cast (by more than 23 million) on the hit Fox series, was announced at the end of a two-hour finale full of surprise musical guests and big Hollywood names.

The show included a stream of stars - Donna Summer, Bryan Adams and the surprise return of George Michael, all of whom have new CDs to promote.

The finale also had cameos by actors Mike Myers (promoting the new summer movie, "The Love Guru"), Jimmy Kimmel, and a taped appearance by Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr., who are appearing in an upcoming comedy.

Archuleta's journey to the finals began last August when he auditioned for the show in San Diego and wowed judges with his cover of Adams' "Heaven" (he sang it again with the male finalists, as well as Adams himself, Wednesday night).

A veteran of national television talent shows - Archuleta won CBS' "Star Search" at the age of 12 - the Murray High School junior then went to Hollywood before landing in the top 12 when the show began in late January.

His song list was full of soulful ballads and an occasional anthem or perky pop song.

But it was his breathless, bluesy version of John Lennon's "Imagine" that led to a movement of teen fans known as "Archies."

Archuleta also was the finalist most mired in controversy after his father, Jeff, was accused by some as the "stage dad from hell."

Despite that negative publicity, Archuleta focused on singing and ended up performing a set of songs during Tuesday's final performance show that had judges declaring him the winner of the night.

"I felt [Tuesday] night David Archuleta nailed all his songs," said Teri Cox, 43, of Spokane, Wash. "I feel Archuleta is so pure. He has a pure soul, so beautiful. He's a special person. I have no doubt [he] will be successful."

But it was Cook's fans who ultimately prevailed.

"I would look to [Cook] to do anything," said movie director Jon Turteltaub, as he walked out of the theater (he made the "National Treasure" films). "I would approach David Cook to do a movie score. But right now [because of his fame], I don't think he'll even talk to me."

'I see myself as just David'

Archuleta said he is looking forward to the upcoming "American Idol" tour, then to thinking about college and a career in music. "I really want to make an album and see how that turns out and if music doesn't go as far I was hoping it will . . . I still want to complete an education," he said. "School's really important. It would be nice to make a living out of [music] but you don't know." One thing he won't miss much is being a teen idol to screaming girls. "I don't see myself as that - it's kind of weird," he said. "I see myself as just David."