"American Idol" ended its season on a ratings upswing. More than 29 million Americans tuned in to see teen country singer Scotty McCreery crowned as the 2011 "American Idol" -- a 21 percent increase in the audience for the big finale of the Fox TV talent show.

Fox said on Thursday that preliminary estimates showed that 29.3 million viewers watched Wednesday's finale. The audience in the 18-49 age group most coveted by advertisers rose 12 percent compared to the 2010 finale.

Fox said it was the first time in five years that "American Idol" had grown its 18-49 year old audience for the finale. About The Author: Steven Rogers
Steven Rogers is a senior entertainment reporter for Reality TV World and been covering the reality TV genre for two decades.