FULL NAME: Kristopher Neil Allen

HOMETOWN: Jacksonville, Arkansas

BIRTHDAY: June 21, 1985

AGE: 38

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Married to Katy O’Connell

BIO: Allen was among the finalists that received the least amount of screen time on season 8 of American Idol, but he still was able to pull through and win the heart of America. After being the dark horse of the competition, Allen became the first married contestant to claim the title. After winning the series, he broke into the Billboard Hot 100 with five songs charting in the top 100.

Before appearing on American Idol, Allen learned to play the viola in his elementary school band and went on to teach himself to play guitar and piano at 13 years old. He played music publicly before trying out of the competition series. He even wrote and self-produced an album Brand New Shoes in 2007. He has released six studio albums in total throughout his career.

Allen is still married to his highschool sweetheart. The couple is said to have met during Allen’s junior year of high school and was wed in 2008. Together they have three children, two sons and a daughter.