Keith Urban’s Year in Pictures: ‘American Idol’

'American Idol' winner Kris Allen performs 'Kiss a Girl' with Keith Urban on the season finale of the popular FOX show. We asked Keith what he thinks about the instant fame contestants get from competing on 'Idol.'

I think you're going to pay your dues no matter what. At the end of the day, there's no real shortcut. It's a different world ... As an artist today, you've got to get any leg up that you can, and if 'Idol' gives somebody who's genuinely talented that kind of leg up -- like with Chris Daughtry and Carrie Underwood -- then that's a good thing. There are some hugely talented people out there who deserve to have record deals, and 'Idol' has produced a few of those already.

Kris is going to come out and play with us this year in Vegas. I'm really happy for him. He's a good guy.