Kris Allen, the Season 8 winner of American Idol, will come to the State Theatre St. Petersburg on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15, with $50 for a meet and greet.

The singer will be soldiering through recent surgery after breaking his wrist in a car accident, and is bringing along a musician to play for him. Since winning in 2009, he has released two albums including his newest Thank You Camellia.

American Idol has a close relationship with Tampa Bay. Multiple contestants have come from Tampa, Taylor Hicks came here to croon for the RNC and now we get a winner to play a relatively intimate bay area venue.

— Jimmy Geurts