Enlarge By Chris Pizzello, AP Kris Allen, winner of American Idol, reacts backstage following the show's finale Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Q: Your performance with Adam (Lambert) and Queen was a highlight of the finale. How much time did you have to rehearse, and what did it feel like to do it live?

A: We had met Queen the night before. They were really, really great. We went through it twice. And then we just did it. Seriously, it was probably the best moment of the year for me. It was like the exhale of everything. I mean, how can you not have a great time singing and Brian May is right next to you?

Q: You're a newlywed. Being thrown into this lifestyle is going to be a crazy thing to adjust to. Have you and your wife talked about how your lives are going to change?

A: It's definitely a topic of conversation. All the time. She's been out here going through all this. If anything, we've been getting ourselves ready for everything. Things are definitely going to change, but we're really strong and she's really cool. We don't have any questions that everything's going to be fine.

Q: After you won, you said Adam deserved to win. Why did you say it? Why did you feel that way?

A: I still feel that way. I feel like Adam deserved it just as much as I did. He was the most consistent person all year. He's one of the most gifted performers that I've ever met. He's really just a great guy. We became great friends. We told each other that day, "You deserve it." I think it could have gone either way and America definitely could not have got it wrong.

Q: What did the judges say to you after you won?

A: I really didn't talk to too many people. I talked to Paula (Abdul), and she told me she was so proud of me and that things are going to be great. Paula's amazing. She's a sweetheart.

Q: What did you learn from your experience on the show?

A: I've always been a procrastinator. On the show, I felt like the times that I worked the hardest were the times that I did the best and that the best things happened. The biggest thing I learned was that the harder you work for the thing that you love the most, then everything that you want is going to come true.

Q: Had you and your wife been dating since high school? Had you graduated from college? Were you doing something else?

A: I went to college for like three years. I took two, maybe more than two years off and tried to do the music thing, actually. It didn't work so well, so I was on my way back. I was taking classes, then American Idol came along, and I had to drop out. So, no, I haven't graduated yet. Me and my wife have been dating forever and only been married for eight months.

Q: Have you gotten wind of what the margin of victory was?

A: I haven't heard anything. I have a feeling it was really close. I mean, come on, Adam was a huge frontrunner for the whole thing, and I know there were plenty of people voting for him.

Q: You've talked a little about the kind of record that you want to make, that it's going to be pop/rock. Can you go more in-depth on what it might sound like?

A: For me, I felt like I did exactly what I wanted to do on the show and that I would want to do on a record. I mean, maybe stray a little on some of the stuff. When I did Ain't No Sunshine, I felt like it was the kind of stuff I wanted to do, stuff that had that feel, stuff that kind of moves people and has that feeling.

Q: Will you be doing some covers or writing on your own?

A: I do write my own music, but I don't know if we'll be able to use any of that stuff on the first CD or not.

Q: How about a message to all your fans?

A: The fans are the reason that we're here. Thank you, I would not be here without you. And I hope you're not let down with the CD.

Q: This season upped the bar in terms of people doing what they wanted with arrangements. Did that change your approach to making music, the way you think about making music now?

A: Not really. Because, for me, I felt like I've always done music the same way. You get better at it, and you grow in what you do. I feel like making music is going to be better than I've ever done it before. This show gets you ready for everything, especially that.

Q: On Tuesday, there were a lot of people who felt like the comments the judges gave you were consolation-prize comments. Did you feel like that at the time?

A: After we sang (No Boundaries) — that song is hard to sing — I don't think me or Adam were happy with our performances, at all. I think they were not trying to judge us on that song, more than anything, and just judge us on the year. Which was kind of nice. It felt great to be judged on what we'd done throughout and not exactly what we'd done on that song.

Q: Regarding the last song, all the judges said they thought the arrangement was probably too high for you. Why was that not something worked out in advance to make it more comfortable for your vocal range?

A: I sang it that morning and it was fine. It is a high song. And there were some sound issues, where we couldn't hear ourselves. It was definitely a rough night at the end. I think we were both getting really tired.

Q: (Judge) Simon Cowell had some harsh things to say about No Boundaries. How do you feel about that as your first official single? Are you going to do anything to maybe switch it around a little bit or tinker with the track?

A: The track is for sale right now, so there's not much we can do. The track actually sounds really good; I listened to it. During the live performances, doing them acoustically, just on guitar and maybe piano, it fits me a little better. You know, the song is good. They kind of have some stipulations on what they're supposed to do with these songs. So they have to write the words a certain way, and it's supposed to be this nice feeling. To have your first single not be something you were a part of writing is a little bit weird, but, you know, I can't complain.

Q: There was this really funny thing you said that if there was one thing you could change about yourself, you wish you had chest hair. Are you going to be getting transplants now that you're going to be making good money?

A: Well, you never know. I'm just kidding. Seriously, I do have a little bit. This is the weirdest question, by the way. It's really patchy and nasty-looking. I want man chest hair.

Q: Does your wife sing at all? Are we going to see a Sonny & Cher or something like that in 20 years?

A: Absolutely not. She will tell you that she does not sing and she is the worst singer in the world. So, no, that will definitely not happen.

Q: How did you and your wife celebrate?

A: We went to the Idol party that night. That was a blast. We just try to spend any kind of alone time we can together. I know that's going to be a sparse thing now.

Q: You mentioned that she has some dreams. What does she want to do?

A: She's passionate about acting and helping people. I know she wants to start foundations and things like that.

Q: Are there any plans set for duets on the tour?

A: I'm going to keep that a surprise. We're trying to get all that stuff worked out right now. Some the 10 most talented people in the world.

Q: Maybe a Kris/Adam duet?

A: Maybe so.

Q: When you made the top 36 and then the top 13, some of us were like, "Who the heck is this guy?" Did it frustrate you that, in the beginning and in the Hollywood round, they really didn't show you at all?

A: There was a little of, "Wow, they're not showing me," but it was more shock than anything. I felt like I had done my thing and a lot of other people were getting shown. But that's kind of the way I live my life, you know. I'm kind of laid-back and low-key, and every once in a while, I'll stick my head out. That's kind of how I did the competition, and it seemed to work out.

Q: After you dueted with Keith Urban (on the finale), are you thinking about adding a county vibe to your album?

A: I was actually afraid of that. I don't feel like I would go that country way. That's not my type of music, and that's not the feeling I want in my album. But we had a great time together. He's a great guy and I respect him so much as an artist and as a musician.

Q: Think back to your very first (Idol) audition. What was going through your head before you tried out?

A: The very, very first audition I did was really scary because I drove there and I could not talk. We were waiting, like, 14 hours. I was there with my brother and I was like, "I really hope you get through, because there's no way I'm getting through." I sang OK but I was really impressed they put me through with that performance because I was really sick.

Q: What do you miss about Arkansas?

A: My friends. I haven't been able to hang out with too many of them. Arkansas is really, really nice. It's got the nature feel. You kind of miss the fresh-air thing.

Q: How did you decide to rework Heartless, and what do you think of the response it got?

A: We got to do whatever we wanted to do, as long as we got it cleared. I was listening to the Kanye (West) album, because I think it's great. The song came across, and I thought, "What if I did this song and made it my own?" And I was just, like, "You know what? I'm not going to ask anybody about it. I'm just going to go for it and be bold and be risky." I think it got a lot of good reviews. I was really excited I got to do something like that, because it showed people what I could do.

Q: Did you hear what Kanye had to say about it?

A: I haven't heard from him, but I have heard some people say he blogged about it and put the video of me singing it on his blog. That really meant a lot.

Q: What are some things we should know about you that we don't?

A: I am a huge sports fan. I grew up playing sports, like I'm a big, huge Razorbacks fan. That's kind of my life during football season, for sure.

Q: What do you want to do going forward, as far as music?

A: There's a lot of people in my head. I'm not going to name any names right now, but there are plenty of people I'd like to collaborate with. The only thing I really want is my music to be respected, whether that means selling records, winning Grammys or people liking my music.

Q: How long have you been writing? Do you tend to be prolific?

A: I've been writing about six years or so. I definitely haven't been able to write too much in the last eight months. I'm not a man of many words, I'm not very expressive or emotional, but it comes out in my music. I don't know how great I am at it. I think I'm getting better.