Reality Rocks“First Couple of Idol” Diana DeGarmo & Ace Young Get Engaged on Season 11 Finale
Season 3 "American Idol" runner-up Diana DeGarmo and her boyfriend, Season 5's seventh-place contestant Ace Young, attended Wednesday night's Season 11 "Idol" finale, just like many other "Idol" alums. But when the "Idol" power couple made a surprise appearance onstage during the finale, it's likely that they were both feeling more nervous than any other Idol in the house, even more nervous than this year's finalists, Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips...when Ace got down on one knee and proposed to Diana, on live television.
"Diana, we have conquered Broadway together, we have created all your new music together, we have an amazing group of people around us," said a visibly shaking and misty-eyed Ace, as he popped open a (product placement alert!) jewelry box and Ryan Seacrest requested for the staff to dim the lights. "And, with the help of David Webb Jewelry, I have a way to make this fun last forever.
"I love you to death. You're my best friend. I want to make this last forever, and I will do everything in my power to have the most imaginable amazing life together, if you will have me," Ace continued, as Diana cupped her hand to her mouth and started to cry herself. "Diana Nicole DeGarmo, will you marry me?"
Diana said yes, of course, exclaiming of the aforementioned diamond ring Ace had selected for her: "Wow, babe! You picked a good one!"
Although 24-year-old Diana and 31-year-old Ace only recently went public with their inter-season reality romance, the couple have actually been an item for more than two years, since meeting while performing together in a Broadway production of Hair, and their relationship is both personal and professional. Not only is Diana signed to Young Brothers Entertainment, the indie record label run by Ace with his brother Ryan, but she and Ace co-wrote her new country ballad, "Good Goodbye," for the Angelina character she plays on the CBS soap opera "The Young & The Restless." Both singers released new music this week.
Why do I think this onscreen reality-TV finale proposal will lead to a much happier future than most "Bachelor"/"Bachelorette" proposals? At the very least, I am sure that a pretty amazing cast of musical characters will be hopping onstage at their wedding reception. So congrats to the lucky couple, who've won the best "Idol" prize of all: each other.
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