Kelly Clarkson Reflects On Her ‘American Idol’ Journey: ‘I Didn’t Even Know It Was A TV Show’

During the Thursday, March 27, episode of Kylie Kelce’s Not Gonna Lie podcast, Kelly Clarkson, now 42 years old, opened up about her experience on American Idol’s inaugural season in 2002. As the first winner of the singing contest, Clarkson’s win in first place was the catalyst for her career and set the stage for a decades-long music career.

In the years that have followed her win, she has also been one of the most successful contestants on the show, with several Grammy Awards and number-one hits like “Since U Been Gone” and “Stronger.” Now, she is sharing deeper insights into what it was really like to be a contestant.

Kelly Clarkson did not know ‘American Idol’ was televised

Looking back on her time as a contestant, Clarkson admitted that she had no idea just how big American Idol was when she auditioned. Her initial goal was simply to provide for herself.

Like many others in the competition, she thought the auditions were a great opportunity to meet people in the music industry, not realizing it was being aired nationally on TV. It wasn’t until her third audition that she finally understood the scale of the show. At the time, Clarkson was a 19-year-old trying to pay her bills. For her, American Idol was a way to survive, not get famous.

Kelly Clarkson dealt with “mean experiences” during her ‘American Idol’ days

Despite winning the competition and launching a successful career, Clarkson revealed that her time on American Idol was far from easy. She also recalled facing harsh criticism, particularly from industry professionals who disliked talent shows. Some of these same individuals later became coaches on The Voice, a show where Clarkson herself served as a coach for nine seasons.

Reflecting on the irony, she pointed out that many of the people who had initially dismissed singing competitions as illegitimate platforms for artists later embraced them. Joining The Voice in 2018 allowed her to connect with new contestants who, like her, were trying to break into the industry.