'American Idol' Winner Phillip Phillips Presented with First Gold Record

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Phillip Phillips' signature aw, shucks grin turned into a giant ear-to-ear smile when the American Idol  season 11 champ was surprised with a gold record plaque during a recent tour stop in Los Angeles.

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Colton Dixon shocked the Leesburg, Ga. singer with his RIAA award (certifying sales of more than 500,000 copies of his single, "Home")  prior to a group photo-op with the touring cast of Idols at the Nokia Theater. The presentation took place two months after Phillips debuted the song on the same stage during the show's grand finale.

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“Before we start, I have a surprise for you,” Dixon told his pal, who responded with his usual down-home charm and a "Wow!" Also in attendance for the big moment: Interscope Geffen A&M vice chairman Steve Berman, Jeff Frasco and 19 Entertainment's Jason Morey, Myles Lewis and Brett Radin.

"It's so crazy to me,” Phillips later told The Hollywood Reporter’s Idol Worship. “I feel so blessed to have it happen and just want to thank Greg Holden and Drew Pearson and the fans who bought it. Can't thank you enough.”

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Released by Interscope Records, the song, co-written by Holden and Pearson, immediately set an Idol record by selling more than 278,000 downloads in its first week, surpassing Season 7 winner David Cook's single, "The Time of My Life," which moved 236,000 in 2008.

Watch a clip of Phillips (with fellow finalists DeAndre Brackensick and Dixon on background vocals) performing "Home" below:

Twitter: @micheleamabile