Over two decades since clinching the inaugural season of American Idol, Kelly Clarkson divulged on The Kelly Clarkson Show that she never received the promised grand prize. The 43-year-old singer and talk show host, in her March 10 episode, shared her lingering grievance against the show's organizers who touted a staggering $1 million prize and a new car.
As she welcomed Love Island's Rob Rausch, who recently won season 4 of Traitors, and actor Daniel Radcliffe, Clarkson brought up her personal experience. "So wait, is it $220,800 richer now? Is that what it is?" she asked of Rausch's winnings.
"I think that’s right," Rausch replied, prompting Clarkson to remark, "That’s a nice number. What was the moment that you took that in? That changes your life."
Rausch then revealed, "They still haven’t paid me."
Clarkson empathized, "You know what? I relate to this so much. You probably weren’t alive when I was on American Idol, but I literally was on the show and they were like, ‘Oh you win a million dollars or whatever.’ No you didn’t. They lied. You did not," causing gasps and laughter from the audience.
"It was like a million dollars worth of investment in you," Clarkson added. "Wait what?" Radcliffe asked in shock.
"Yes! And then they said, ‘You get a car,’ and I needed it because my car was bashed in, and I couldn’t afford the deductible, and no! I did not get a car!" Clarkson exclaimed. "And then Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car and one for his mom!"
Aiken finished as the runner-up on season 2 of American Idol. "Unbelievable," Rausch commented.
Clarkson continued her rant, "I was like, what the f**k!? I remember Clay telling me that the second season, ‘Yeah they gave my mom one.’ And I was like, ‘I’m actually going to kick your a** right now.'"
Radcliffe suggested, "There should be some system where if you win something on the first season of something, whatever the prizes become, you should retroactively get them."
Clarkson added, "No, it was supposed to be the prize then. That’s what I’m saying." She warned Rausch, "You might not see it."
Interestingly, in 2023, Carrie Underwood, who won season 4 of American Idol, revealed that she still owns the blue Ford Mustang she won during her victorious season.
