The competition was upstaged by this week's other election, but this did nothing to dampen Natalie Gauci's elation as she was crowned the new Australian Idol at the Sydney Opera house last night.



After a marathon show televised to an expected audience of 2 million - including a surprise performance by the US pop star Lionel Richie and performances from Divinyls, Rogue Traders and former idols Damien Leith and Shannon Noll - the 26-year-old jazz singer and former child television star from Melbourne won the title by a hair's-breadth of text-message voting, beating her opponent and the bookie's favourite to win the competition, the Cronulla teenager Matt Corby.

"As far as I'm concerned, they have both made it," Richie said.

Gauci now embarks on the entertainment juggernaut of an Australian Idol winner. The pre-recorded winner's single is already available for download, with an album due out next week. A national tour will follow early next year. For photos go to www.smh.com.au