With a record-breaking 132 million votes cast, former pawn shop worker Phillip Phillips won Season 11 of “American Idol,” beating out home-schooled high school student Jessica Sanchez.

As soon as tuxedo-clad host Ryan Seacrest announced the winner, Sanchez smiled graciously and immediately gave Phillips a big hug. The rest of the season’s Top Twelve finalists stormed the stage–led by Phillips’ BFF Heejun Han, who chucked Phillips under his chin and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery presented Phillips with a microphone-shaped trophy, and handed an acoustic guitar to Seacrest.

“Phillip, in this incredible moment, we’re going to give you this to do what you do best and what you’ve done all season, which is impress us on this stage,” said Seacrest, as he passed the guitar to Phillips. “Congratulations. You did it!”

Phillips took the guitar and launched into “Home,” the song he chose to perform on Tuesday night as his “potential winning song.”

As confetti rained from the ceiling, Phillips choked back tears and was unable to finish the song. Shaking his head in disbelief, he took off his guitar and walked off the stage to join his family in an emotional group hug.

Sanchez also had plenty of reason to celebrate. The petite 16-year-old held her own against Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday, singing “I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” the song Holliday originated from the Broadway musical “Dreamgirls.”

It was easily the highlight of the two-hour finale, with the dueling divas matching each other, note for note. One noted Hollywood producer called the moment “television history,” telling FoxNews.com, “this is exactly what live television should be.”

The finale also featured the musical talents of Aerosmith, who performed two songs, including the classic “Walk This Way.”