Who was the first American Idol winner? Details explored

As the first American Idol winner in 2002, Kelly Clarkson created history and began a career that would see her repeatedly rank at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts. Clarkson talked candidly about the difficulties she encountered following her victory in the historic competition show during a recent visit on Kylie Kelce's Not Gonna Lie podcast.

The Texas native, who later became a coach on rival show The Voice, has since established an impressive career spanning music, television, and hosting her own daytime talk show. Clarkson said that her path to stardom through a television contest was initially met with significant industry resistance, despite the fact that talent competitions are now commonplace in the entertainment landscape.

Recently, her temporary absence from The Kelly Clarkson Show required several guest hosts to step in, including Simu Liu, Roy Wood Jr., and Wanda Sykes, highlighting her continued relevance in entertainment over two decades after her Idol victory.

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Kelly Clarkson opens up about being the first-ever American Idol winner

During her March 27 podcast appearance, Clarkson didn't mince words about the difficult reception she received after winning American Idol.

"I had no one, I was the first winner. It was hard," she explained.

The singer revealed that many industry figures dismissed her because of how she achieved fame.

"People were really mean," she continued.

Elaborating:

"People that were really mean have been coaches. You know what I'm saying? Like, hated talent shows, and they ended up being on The Voice."

Though American Idol winner Clarkson avoided naming specific artists, she made it clear that some who initially criticized talent shows later embraced them professionally.

"They didn't like it, it took the industry kind of by storm, the talent shows. It was a very unlikable thing in the industry concerning the populous. Now there's so many." she told Kelce.

Clarkson's journey came full circle when she joined The Voice as a coach for seasons 14-21 and 23. Her experience as a contestant gave her unique insight into the pressures faced by aspiring performers.

"People like us who have been there in that audition process, and just being so judged instantaneously, on maybe not your best performance but you know you can do better... it's a grueling thing," Clarkson reflected, comparing her perspective to fellow Idol alum Jennifer Hudson, who also served as a coach on The Voice."

She added that talent shows create "a lot of pressure for these artists that I don't think a lot of artists that sell tons of records would be able to handle. It's a different thing."

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What is Kelly Clarkson doing now?

Since her American Idol win, Clarkson has amassed three Grammy Awards and built an impressive career spanning music and television. Her success includes three Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits and three chart-topping albums on the Billboard 200.

When launching her daytime talk show in 2019, Clarkson approached the new venture with characteristic openness.

"This is what's weird about me. Ignorance is bliss. I'm just doing my thing. I love talking to people. I love singing. I love the audience being kind of a co-host with me. My band's here," she told USA TODAY.

The Kelly Clarkson Show, now in its sixth season, recently navigated a period without its namesake host. Actor Simu Liu stepped in on March 3, telling audiences:

"Kelly isn't able to make it today. We're sending her our very best."

Other temporary hosts included comedian Roy Wood Jr., who joked about his resemblance to Clarkson:

"Kelly's out for the day. I'm back. You're in good hands. I was here about a week ago, I think they brought me back because of my resemblance to Kelly. You need to squint to see it, though."

Twenty-two years after her American Idol victory, Clarkson's willingness to discuss the challenges she faced highlights how much the entertainment landscape has changed. What was once considered an unconventional path to fame has become a launching pad for numerous successful careers.

Katy Perry’s mic drop moment came early last year when she officially announced her exit from American Idol after the 2024 season. With Season 23 kicking off, the search for her replacement has concluded with Carrie Underwood taking her place.

Although American Idol winner Kelly was a natural fan pick (she is the original Idol, after all), she recently made it clear that a judge’s seat in L.A. isn’t in the cards right now.

Since moving to New York City with her kids and relocating The Kelly Clarkson Show along with her, Kelly’s been laser-focused on family life. She told Entertainment Tonight that cross-country commitments just aren’t doable these days: her priority is staying close to her children.

Clarkson's journey from talent show contestant to multi-hyphenate entertainment figure demonstrates both her resilience and adaptability. By speaking candidly about her obstacles, she provides context for how drastically the industry's perception of talent competitions has evolved since her breakthrough in 2002.

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You can watch American Idol Season 23 live on ABC Sundays and Mondays at 8:00 pm ET/PT and stream it the next day on Hulu.