Seattle duo wins for best 'Idol' song

No matter who wears the

American Idol

crown this morning, she or he will owe a shout-out to a greater idol.

"This Is My Now," the original song performed by American Idol finalists Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis in their showdown Tuesday, was written by a Seattle duo: a pastor and a contemporary Christian-music artist.

The song, which beat more than 25,000 entries in this season's online songwriting competition, will be released as the winner's first single.

"This is just surreal," said Scott Krippayne, 36, the singer-songwriter who penned "This Is My Now" with New Day Church pastor Jeff Peabody. "We believed in the song, but you just never know. We wanted to write something that encapsulates the season."

Added Peabody, 40, who wrote the lyrics: "I would describe the song as encouraging for people who might be discouraged. Hopefully it gives them the incentive to carry on."

The partners quickly boarded a plane Monday to Los Angeles after being informed by the show's producers that they were the winners of the songwriting competition. (In previous seasons, the showdown song has been written by established composers.)

Iain Tirie, head of the U.S. arm of Fuller's 19 Entertainment, said more than 500,000 votes were cast on the American Idol Web site May 2-8 for the contest's top 20 songs, selected by company executives.

The winning version is now available for download on iTunes and the Idol Web site. All previous initial singles by Idol winners have shot to the top of the charts.

Krippayne and Peabody said they hoped the song might open some doors for them at record companies. But their first goal is more immediate.

Said Peabody, "I can't wait to download my own song off iTunes."