Kristopher Neil Allen (born June 21, 1985) is an American singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol. Prior to Idol, he self-released a 2007 album entitled Brand New Shoes.

Childhood and personal life

Kris Allen was born in Jacksonville, Arkansas to Kimberly (née Wood) and Neil Allen. He is the elder of two sons; his younger brother, Daniel, is a college cheerleader and a cheerleading coach. Allen is a Christian and served as assistant music director at the non-denominational New Life Church in both Conway, Arkansas and Little Rock, Arkansas. Allen has participated in missionary work around the world, including in Burma, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Spain and Thailand.

Allen's interest in music began early. He began playing the viola in elementary school and went on to play the instrument in the Mills University Studies High School orchestra, eventually winning a spot in the Arkansas all-state orchestra. Additionally, he taught himself to play the guitar at age 13, and also plays the piano and the ukulele. His musical influences, as stated in his Idol confessionals, include the Beatles, Jamie Cullum, Jason Mraz, John Mayer and Michael Jackson.

After high school, Allen moved to Conway, Arkansas to attend the University of Central Arkansas, where he was a business major and a member of Chi Alpha. He soon dropped out to pursue music professionally, performing in local bars and working as a shoe salesman to make ends meet.[ After marrying his girlfriend of seven years, Katherine "Katy" O'Connell, on September 26, 2008, Allen planned on going back to college to finish his degree and "get a real job." He has described his decision to audition for American Idol as a "last hurrah" before giving up his pursuit of a music career.

credit to Wikipedia.com

No Boundaries-- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vokM1z8on5g

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heheheee. i know that ALOT of people were very upset with Kris Allen's win on AI8. but im really starting to like his songs alot. and i wish the BEST of luck to him in the future! :DDDD and oh gosh. No Boundaries is SUCH a GOOD SONG! ;_;