Behind the Scenes with the Newest 'Idol!'

“Extra” is with Jordin Sparks just seconds after her crowning moment!

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. So weird!” exclaims Jordin. ”It’s still not hitting me!”

And Jordin has a direct message to her fans. She says, “Thank you for voting for me!” and adds, “I just hope I can make them proud.”

But Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul are saying that won’t be a problem!

Randy told us, “She could be one of the next Whitney Houston’s in the next couple of years. She’s that good.”

Adds Paula, “She’s going to be a great American Idol.”

And on “Extra’s” set, runner-up Blake Lewis is revealing exclusively what exactly he was whispering in Jordin’s ear before her jaw-dropping performance!

“I told her I loved her, and I said, ‘Knock it out, you got to sing the song again!’” reveals Blake.

It was something of an “Idol” reunion – Jordin joined Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks and Kelly Clarkson!

And Kelly Clarkson admits she didn’t even notice the judges at first!

Says Kelly, “I was like, ‘You all are down there!’ I forgot about that.”

“Extra” caught up with last year’s champion Taylor Hicks, who says, “Things are going well in Soul Patrol land.”

Country queen Carrie Underwood, who has gone on to sell millions of records, says it feels good to be back at the “Idol” scene. “It’s awesome. I get to come back and just be a part of something special for somebody else,” she says.

Host Ryan Seacrest told us his most memorable moment of the show was none other than Sanjaya Malakar!

“I really enjoyed Sanjaya. I can’t figure out if it was the fan that we got for him!” jokes Ryan.

Judge Randy says that seeing Sanjaya’s flowing locks on that stage was also unforgettable for him.

The best part for Randy was “the fan. He looked like Diana Ross with the fan with the hair blowing back! Maybe I should grow my hair long.”

Uh…maybe Randy should stick to what he’s got.