The Associated Press reports Kurt Nilsen of Norway won the ‘World Idol’ competition on Thursday when he triumphed in a singing competition with ‘Idol’ winners from 10 other nations. ‘American Idol’ champ Kelly Clarkson won second place, and Belgium’s Peter Everard came in third when the vote was announced on Britain’s ITV television following the New Year’s Day broadcast of the international singing competition. “This is totally amazing,” said a thrilled and tearful Nilsen. “I love you guys,” he told the 10 other competitors.

Kelly Clarkson Doesn’t Believe In New Year’s Resolutions

January 1, 2004 - Kelly tells Launch.com that she does not believe in making New Year’s resolutions.”I don’t believe in ’em, funny enough,” she said. “Because every time I make ’em I always end up lying to myself and I break it. You know when you’re not supposed to do something it’s in the back of your head and you end up wanting to do it more.”

The New York Post reports that after last week’s ‘World Idol’ competition, many consider the strong performance of Norwegian Kurt Nilsen good enough to put him in the favorites to win the competition with ‘American Idol’ Kelly Clarkson and ‘Pop Idol’ Will Young, when the results are announced Thursday night. “It was amazing when he came in to [audition] for the first time,” says Norwegian judge, Jan Fredrik Karlsen, a record industry executive. “We were so surprised to hear him sing. He has a big, big, fantastic, original voice and after awhile he was so charming it really got through how amazing and talented he really is.”