Before Kelly Clarkson was the multi-talented hitmaker, 3-time Grammy winner, and talk show host that we know and love now, she was a hopeful contestant on the very first season of American Idol. As Clarkson, 40, was just honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the “Since U Been Gone” singer reunited with the original AI judges— Simon Cowell, 62, Paula Abdul, 60, and Randy Jackson, 66. During the event, Cowell delivered a speech in her honor, and reflected back on the moment he met the “Breakaway” crooner at her audition, and heard her powerhouse vocals. What he didn’t expect— he revealed— was her clever tactic to win the competition.
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“I actually thought I was being punked on the first day. Paula [Abdul] resigned, every singer was out of tune, and I thought, ‘Well this is a joke.’ It got worse, progressively,” Cowell, said. “So I thought this is an absolute disaster. Like, why did I come here?” He added, speaking to Clarkson, “And thank God, I remember the day we met you. I remember not just your voice, but your personality. I’m gonna be honest here, I didn’t realize at that point, honestly how good you were. I just liked you. And I was so thankful.”
20 years ago today — on Sept. 4, 2002 — our nation’s votes were counted and Kelly Clarkson was declared the winner of the first season of AMERICAN IDOL.
It remains the best democratic decision this country has ever made. pic.twitter.com/qr7QRAIyoG
— Dave Quinn (@NineDaves) September 4, 2022
The X Factor creator then went on, recalling approaching Clarkson for the first time— and her hilariously memorable response. “I went up to you afterwards because, obviously, I was thinking, ‘I think you’re gonna win this show.’ I said, ‘I just want to say, that was amazing, Kelly, and I am here.’ You turned around to me and said, ‘Simon… Without being rude, I would much rather we do not talk — seriously until the end of the series.’ And I’m like, ‘Wow, what does that mean? It means stay away from me. I know what I’m doing. I’m focused.'”
At the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony for Kelly Clarkson, Simon Cowell recalls the moment when the singer won the first season of #AmericanIdol: “I remember that moment when your name was called…I could never predict what was going to happen then.” https://t.co/M6fXOkMc0C pic.twitter.com/SysthAojM2
— Variety (@Variety) September 19, 2022
The “Behind These Hazel Eyes” singer then interjected and quickly defended her strategy to win American Idol: “I didn’t wanna talk to anyone involved that was voting us through. I was just trying to be respectful. Also, I didn’t want you getting in my head — you mess with all those people.” Cowell then comically responded, “It’s taken her 20 years to get that out, my God. It’s like a therapy session.”
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The America’s Got Talent judge continued to hype Clarkson up and explain why she deserved the major accolade and honor. He also credited her for the show’s continued success after she won the first season. “I remember that moment when your name was called, and I was thinking to myself, ‘Thanks to you, we may have another season.’ I can honestly say to you, thanks to you. You validated what we did, because if we didn’t find a star, there was no point in doing these shows,” Cowell said.
He then noted, “I could never predict what was going to happen then. I remember talking to the record label at the time, and I said, ‘I don’t think you realize who you signed here. This girl has steel in her eyes […] She’s one of those people who, from day one, was respectful to the people who voted for her, who bought her records, who bought her tickets — and she’s never lost that,” Cowell concluded. “This is the Kelly you see. The Kelly you see in front of the camera is that Kelly you see behind the camera.”
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Clarkson recently acknowledged how much American Idol meant to her in the 20 years since she won in 2002 (we can’t believe it’s been that long, either!) The Kelly Clarkson Show host gratefully wrote in an Instagram post for her 6.1 million followers, “20 years ago today I won American Idol and it forever changed the course of my life. That moment was the door that opened up so much access and opportunity, and creative partnerships that I will be grateful for all of my days.”
She continued, adding, “The family and friendships I have created over these 20 years in music and tv are priceless to me,” she continued. “We only get so many trips around the sun and while I am proud and feel abundantly blessed of the successes and failures that I have learned from, I am most proud and grateful for those friends that have become family, and for their arms that have held me when I needed it and their hearts that listened to me when I felt lost. Without them I would not be where I am. I would probably not be here at all.” (We’re not crying, you’re crying!)
