When brash Brit Simon Cowell left American Idol to helm a reality competition of his own, experts and fans started writing the obituary for the country's most popular program. Instead, thanks to a few vital rule changes and a pair of lovable new judges, 29.3 million viewers tuned in to a star-studded finale featuring Lady Gaga, Bono and Beyonce and saw 17-year-old country crooner Scotty McCreery become the second-youngest winner in Idol history.

Scotty McCreery may be single-handedly putting American Idol back in the star-making business.

The 18-year-old's debut album, Clear As Day, shot straight to the top of the Billboard Top 200 chart and Top Country chart when it was released this week.

McCreery is the youngest male in history to open at # 1 on the Top 200 chart.  He is the first American Idol winner in eight years to land his debut album in that spot, and he's the first country male singer from the show to do so.

With sales estimated at just under 200,000 albums for the first week, this is also the first debut by a new country artist to top 100,000 in first-week sales since Carrie Underwood’s in 2005.

“My hopes were just to go out there and have fun and let people know that the album was out there. Everybody hopes for the number one, but you never really expect it. To see it up there is pretty incredible,” said Scotty.

McCreery will have his biggest TV audience since his Idol win when he sings the National Anthem at the opening game of the World Series October 19.

Scotty McCreery did more than just win the American Idol title on Wednesday. The teenager is also guaranteed at least $250,000 in cash!

PHOTOS: Scotty McCreery Wins Idol

Because he's a minor, the AI producers had to have a judge -- we're not talking Randy or J.Lo. here -- sign off on McCreery's contract, which also made it a publicly accessible document.

Here's what RadarOnline.com found. The 17-year-old from North Carolina gets $250,000 for winning the show and as advance against his first album.  There could be tens of thousands more in back end money if the album is a hit.

McCreery also gets a cut of the action from licensing his likeness for merchandise and endorsement deals.  Based on what the last few winners have pocketed from this, he can expect to take in at least another $100,000.

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Scotty and all the Idol finalists also each get $1,000 a show for the American Idol Tour that begins July 6 in Salt Lake City.  There are 47 dates currently on the calendar.

Bottom line, the very likable Scotty could end up taking in close to half a million dollars in the next year.

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It was the emotional moment when Scotty McCreery started sobbing as he hugged his mentor Bud Moffett moments after he was crowned the new American Idol.

The long-haired Moffett is the man behind the teenager’s amazing rise to superstardom.

The New York born musician, 62, was sitting alongside McCreery’s parents, Michael and Judy, when his protege became Idol’s youngest male winner after an amazing 122 million votes were cast.

Who will be the next American Idol? Even the stars want to know!

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The red carpet for the American Idol finale was packed with celebs. Kung Fu Panda 2 star Jack Black and Hell's Kitchen star Gordon Ramsay were there.  So were reality TV's Janice Dickinson and her TV rehab counselor Dr. Drew Pinsky.