By Sierra Marquina

Randy Jackson made his final bow on American Idol last night.

After 12 years of judging on the hit competition show, the head dawg has decided to leave the show.

Randy revealed to his good friend Ryan on On Air with Ryan Seacrest that his decision to leave now was simply because: “It was just time, honestly. You reach that point where you go, ‘Ok, so what do I want to do next?’ You know 12 seasons honestly, Ryan, we’ve done it … [it's time to] get on a different roller coaster.”

So does Randy know what that next roller coaster will be? No. But he doesn’t have second thoughts about leaving Idol.

“I’m kind of one of those weird ones. When I’m ready, I’m ready. But it takes me a while to really get there.”

As for the video tribute that played on the finale, Randy joked, ”What is so startling for me is to see from Season 1 and 2, just the dramatic weight loss. How I went from this huge guy to the supermodel I am. It’s freaking crazy. I was like, ‘Yo dawg, you are like a third of yourself’ and Ryan and Simon [Cowell] inspired me to do that.”

Since Randy has sat at the judges table for 12 seasons, he’s seen all the changes over the years, but what are his feelings about this season’s panel? “This wasn’t the best in terms of chemistry panel, but no listen, for real … when I look at the talent on the stage and who won and what happened up there, I’m just like whatever people say about the judges – good, bad, indifferent – you look at the talent and I’m proud of us.”

Photo: Getty Images

By Sierra Marquina

Candice Glover may have won American Idol last night, but runner-up Kree Harrison isn’t holding a grudge!

The 22-year-old singer admitted to On Air with Ryan Seacrest moments after exiting the stage last night: “The feeling right now is bittersweet because it’s over so that’s the bitter part, but the sweet is me and Candice can both go and start our careers and that’s an amazing feeling because the whole reason I wanted to … have longevity and I get to go do that now, I hope.”

So what was going through her mind during her final Idol moments? “Everyone kept saying you’re so both too calm for this.”

But Kree explains it was due to a lack of nerves. “Honestly, we already feel like we made it. This whole experience has been much more than we could have ever imagined and we’re so proud of each other and everybody and we get to go on tour now.”

The experience also left Kree sharing her personal life — the tragic loss of both of her parents at a young age — with millions of TV viewers.

Did she ever regret telling her story? “I think there was times where it become hard for me to talk about it because it is a story, but I feel like everybody has a story that will break your heart and at the end of the day it’s not my whole story. It’s just a part of me. I thought it was important to share because this is also me as an artist and a person.”

As for that nickname that judge Nicki Minaj gave her, Kreedom. “[Even] my family calls me that now!”

Download Kree’s single “All Cried Out” here!

Photo: Getty Images

By Sierra Marquina

The third time truly is a charm for Candice Glover!

The South Carolina native was crowned the winner of Season 12 of American Idol, after auditioning twice before during Seasons 9 and 11.

This makes Candice the first female winner of the show since Jordin Sparks (Season 6), and she revealed to On Air with Ryan Seacrest following the finale that she couldn’t “believe” the card Ryan read had her name on it. Instead, she joked that she thought it read, “I don’t know? Kree Harrison!”

Candice admitted she and close friend and runner-up Kree “were saying each other’s names…while you were opening up the card, so we were like rooting for each other.”

The 23-year-old added of her accomplishment: “I know, I can’t even. I was like, ‘Ok, Mom. I’m going to go for Top 10.’ Like we did Top 40, Top 20, Top 10. And then okay Top 5, Top 3, and then when I made Top 2, I was like, ‘Oh my god. I actually have a chance to win this show and then I sang and it happened.”

So how did Kree and Candice keep their cool onstage? “You know how Angie has her clap? Me and Kree, that’s happeneing times 50 in our minds, but we just try to be as calm and cool as we possibly can. That’s just how I [am] when I’m nervous I don’t get jittery, I just get really calm and really quiet.”

Someone who couldn’t keep their cool however was Candice’s grandma. “I think my grandma fainted! I had to stop crying and look over there and be like, ‘Oh my gosh. What’s happening with grandma?’ But she was just really overwhelmed as well about the car.”

So why does Candice think she was able to become the American Idol this time, but not the past? “Season 9 I was just a 19-year-old who could sing and my parents, we used to go to Disney World every summer and auditions just happened to be down the road from Disney World and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. I want to audition for American Idol’ and I had no idea who I was as a person [or] as an artist so I think I was just a singer then, but I’m an artist now and I’m nore confident now and more comfortable with who I am.”

Not only did Candice gain confidence onstage, but also in the fashion department. “I told the wardrobe stylist that she was never going to get me into a dress and I wore three dresses,” joke the singer, who ditched her heels for flats immediately after the finale. “I can’t believe that happened. And the heels! I broke my toe remember? Oh my gosh, all the stuff I went through on this show.”

So will we see Candice now showing more leg? Not so fast! “I don’t know if I’m ready for that … every once in a while I’ll bust out a dress.”

And most importantly, what music can we expect to come from Candice? “I can’t even wrap my mind around the fact that I’m making one! What’s happening? I’m just like a cool … laid back R&B and soul and jazz, but I want to appeal to everybody, so I can’t wait to get to work on that.”

Candice, who admitted she hasn’t really had the chance to sleep, joked the first thing she’ll do now that Idol is over: “Get some fried chicken?!”

And she deserves it!

Buy Candice’s single “I Am Beautiful” here!

Photo: Getty Images