She may have been on the receiving end of countless dumb-blonde jokes, but "American Idol" finalist Kellie Pickler is having the last laugh.

A little more than a week after fourth-place finisher Chris Daughtry inked a record deal with 19 Recordings/ RCA Records, sixth-place finalist Pickler has signed her own contract with 19 Recordings/ BNA Records (the latter of which is part of the RCA label group). Founded by the show's creator, Simon Fuller, 19 Recordings is also home to fellow Idols Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia and Ruben Studdard.

"I've always dreamed of getting a record deal so now my dream has come true!" Pickler said in a statement released Monday (July 17).

The 20-year-old Southern songstress announced her good fortune on Monday while guest co-hosting "The View."

Despite a jam-packed tour schedule for American Idols Live, Pickler will work on the album between dates. The first single is scheduled to hit airwaves in September and her debut album is slated to land in stores November 14.

In addition to her cover of Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight," which can be found on American Idol Season 5 Encores, the country crooner is best remembered for her comical antics that included pronouncing salmon "sal-mon" and asking judge Simon Cowell "What's a ballsy?" in response to his comments on her performance.

Why would anyone give her a record deal

Damn another whackass singer from NC. Fantasia is our only talent.........

This is good and bad news. Good that she got a record deal. Bad that it is gonna be so rushed that it will end up being pretty bad. And I find it strange that 4 out of the top 6 have been signed, and the 2 unsigned were the most talented.

Supposedly Paris has signed with J Records and it will be announced soon, we'll see if that's true. once that happens, that leavs Elliot!

19 Management is quite stupid to me now...

1st: Made no movement with S Club 8, losing TONS of popularity and fame.
2nd: Allowing Taylor Hicks to win American Idol.
3rd: After the by far WORST season of American Idol, sealing the deal by giving Kelly Pickler a record deal.

I saw her on the "View" this morning and she was terrible as usual. It's gotten old Kelly, plz stop!

i smell another idol flop

..

Why?!

I wish they'd just focus on Kat & Chris since they were the only ones who actually had awesome voices and could entertain an audience w/o acting stupid or pretending to have tourettes.

She said on the View that shes a virgin hehe Pickles<333

Katherine doesn't have a "sound", like honestly i couldnt see her in like the pop genre or pop/rock...

Adult Contemporary & Pop balladry would actually be her sound. A very Celine like or vintage Mariah sound would go perfectly with her. No one else is doing it right now so she might as well fill that void.

I say good for her. I don't have anything against Kellie, but she sucked during her last 2 weeks on AI. She has a pretty good voice, unlike Paris Hil-tey. I believe her main element for the CD would be country-pop/rock/r&b.

I'm still not convinced. She needs to drop that cheesy attitude if she it to be taken seriously. Wut is that avatar Tina?

She was fairly good a couple of weeks and then really sucked a couple of weeks. But the girl could do comedy.