With 122 million votes, Scott McCreery is the new American Idol, as decided by fans of the talent competition show Wednesday night.

"Never in my wildest dreams [did I think I'd win]. I've got to thank the Lord first, he got me here. Thank y'all so much!" McCreery, 17, told host Ryan Seacrest after his win was announced.

The North Carolina native performed "I Love You This Big" after he was named the winner over runner-up Lauren Alaina, 16.

The win came as no surprise for judge Steven Tyler who told McCreery, "You've come a long way. n the beginning we were worried about your range and you proved it right there again. You take your chances, you ran with it and you nailed it again."

Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, who was originally set to be a co-host of the US version of Simon Cowell's talent competition show X Factor, will now REPLACE British pop star Cheryl Cole as a judge on the show, according to TMZ.

Cole's English accent was a concern, according to the report, and other reports speculate her judging duties for the UK version of the show, not to mention her singing career, may have caused scheduling conflicts.

Fellow judges Cowell, L.A. Reid and Paula Abdul will continue on with their duties while Steve Jones will host the show solo now, as Scherzinger moves to the judges' table.

No official word yet on why Cole, 27, was let go. The singer had already taped several audition shows with the cast. The show is set to air in September.

The Attorney General's office is conducting an "inquiry" as to whether Arnold Schwarzenegger used tax payer money to cover his sexual trysts while serving as Governor of California, according to the National Enquirer.

The politician-actor, who served as the state's governor from November 2003 to January 2011, reportedly used state-funded security personal to hide various women being escorted into his hotel room. William Taylor, a hotel security officer, tells the tabloid:

“It makes me very angry just to think of what was going on at that time. On three differed occasions after the governor arrived alone at the Hyatt Regency, CHP Dignitary Protection Services arrived in their official vehicles, black Ford Crown Victoria sedans - about one to two hours later with one or two young females.

Eric Bauman of the Los Angeles Democratic Party has called for an investigation into Schwarzenegger's use of campaign or state money for his alleged extra-marital affairs.

Bauman claims:

"They'd hurriedly escort the women through the service entrance on the second floor parking garage to the elevator that went to the governor's private wing... the women would usually stay for two to four hours and either leave through the hotel's main entrance or be driven away by the CHP in the same official vehicles."

Schwarzenegger's camp has yet to comment on the allegations.

GQ

Way to go Kim!

We can see why Miss K is so ready and willing to take her hot self off the market and settle down with new fiancé Kris Humphries asap -- he's smokin’ HOT.

The NBA star, 26, put his perfectly buff physique on full display in some expensive men's swim trunks for the June issue of GQ, and we have just one thing to say: Thank you Kris!

Kardashian and the New Jersey Nets star have been a couple since last year, and the athlete just decided to put a custom-designed, 20.5-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond on it. Lucky girl!

Kardashian's fam has been super supportive of the union, with Khloe Tweeting: “I can’t believe I was able to keep this a secret but now I can scream all I want about it! Kim is engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!”

Bro Rob later Tweeted: “Congrats @KimKardashian & @KrisHumphries on getting engaged! BACHELOR PARTY TIME!!!”

Check out the rest of Humphries' sexy GQ shots, after the jump ...

Twilight star Kellan Lutz was recently asked to play Britney Spear's love interest in the music video for her latest single "I Wanna Go," but the beefy actor turned down the role, according to HollywoodLife.

Britney and Kellan first met two weeks ago when he attended her fund-raising event for the St. Bernard Project in Los Angeles. But Kellan wasn't the singer's only pick for leading man ... Britney also approached Matthew McConaughey to portray her love interest.

The "Till The World Ends" singer has her music video boy toy rescuing her from the crowd of pesky paparazzi before making out with her in the back seat of a car.

Sounds reminiscent of Stephen Dorff's role in "Everytime," circa 2004. Maybe if McConaughey turns down the role too, Dorff could reprise his character!

The Schwarzenegger's have called this $23 million dollar Brentwood mansion home since 2002, but it appears that as of now, 17-year-old son Patrick Schwarzenegger is living at the massive estate alone.

Arnold and wife Maria had purchased the seven bedroom, 10 bathroom estate nine years ago for just under $5 million. After word got out that the former Governor had fathered an illegitimate child, Ms. Shriver moved out of the family's 14,500-square-foot home. This is the same estate that Arnold's mistress, Mildred Baena, worked as a housekeeper.

If there's any doubt how Patrick feels about his dad, he cleared that up yesterday when he spoke with X17 saying, "I love him."

See more of the gorgeous home in the gallery below.

Like mommy, like daughter!

Alyson Hannigan took her precious two-year-old daughter Satyana out for a walk in the California sun, and the darling little girl couldn't stop smiling for our cameras!

The lovely ladies ran a few errands before stopping to pick up a couple of cold organic drinks at Infusion Café, in Santa Monica.

The American Pie star definitely has a budding starlet on her hands!

Find out what Hannigan has been up too during her hiatus from How I met Your Mother's, after the jump ...

Startraks

Kim Kardashian never misses a moment to work her sexy fashion sense ... even while pumping gas into her white Rolls Royce Ghost!

While dressed in black and sporting oversized shades, the 30-year-old reality star used her gorgeous emerald green olivia+joy tycoon satchel as her splash of color. Loves it!

We also can't help but notice Kim's sky-high bronze stilettos! No wonder Kris Humphries is obsessed with his new fiancee. Work it!