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"American Idol" season 7 winner David Cook concedes he had a "bittersweet" feeling with the crowning of a new "Idol," but he adds, "I'm definitely appreciating not being the newbie anymore. I think Kris (Allen) and Adam (Lambert) did a great job of representing the show."

David Cook won "American Idol" with 56 percent of the vote. His self-titled debut CD went platinum, and he joined John Mayer and Rob Thomas as just the third male solo artist to have three singles from a debut album crack the adult contemporary Top 10 chart.

Yet no one seems more surprised by this success than Cook.

"I keep trying to pinch myself to make sure this is all for real," he said in a phone interview this week. "It's funny, people kind of freak sometimes when they meet me, and I don't get it. If I met me, I'd think 'that guy's kind of a dork.'

"I don't look at myself as anything more than myself. I don't look at me as a rock star or big recording artist. I got lucky, and I'm getting to do something I love to do."

That grounded, Midwestern candidness combined with powerful vocals won fans and the championship during Season 7 of Fox's reality TV show.

"AI" followers as well as fans of his CD, "David Cook," will pack the Chattanooga Convention Center on Wednesday night when Cook stops here on his Declaration tour.

Cook will be the first major act to perform in the center whose concert has not been connected with a benefit, according to Mike Shuford, assistant director of the convention center.

Needtobreathe opens for Cook at 7 p.m. Shuford said the concert in Hall C will have festival seating (no chairs, everybody stands), so doors will open at 6 p.m. to give everyone equal chance to get close to the stage.

The tour name is taken from the first track of the CD, which Cook says declares who he is as a musician. He wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 12 tracks on the platinum-selling CD. The CD's eclectic songs send a message about Cook's love for diversity in his music and songwriting.

"I hate the idea that everything has to be put in a box. I wanted to show that when you say pop rock it can mean a lot of different things. I guess for me, the message was: Don't try to define it; just enjoy it," he said.

Cook said he's looking forward to the intimate setting he'll have with fans here.

"I love eliminating that buffer between us and the audience when we're playing. The show's going to be sweaty but a whole lot of fun. I hope everybody comes out."

IF YOU GO

* What: David Cook concert.

* When: 7 p.m. Wednesday (doors open 6 p.m.).

* Where: Chattanooga Convention Center, Hall C, 1 Carter Plaza.

* Admission: $30 advance, $35 day of show.

* Phone: 866-468-7630.

* Web site: www.ticketmaster.com.