Season 1 “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson went on to great success, but the singer and talk show host said it wasn’t easy in the early days after winning the show. Find out why Clarkson struggled initially.
Kelly Clarkson’s ‘American Idol’ Win Was Difficult for Her
During the March 27 episode of the “Not Gonna Lie With Kylie Kelce” podcast, Clarkson dished on what it was like to win the first season of “American Idol” in 2002.
She admitted that it was “really hard” for her. “I didn’t even know it was a TV show until my third audition,” the singer admitted. “We were literally trying to pay our bills, y’all.”
“I had no one. I was the first winner. It was hard,” Clarkson explained. “Not to sound like, whatever, it was really hard. People were really mean. People that were really mean have been coaches. You know what I’m saying? Like, [they] hated talent shows. And they ended up being on ‘The Voice.’”
She continued, “It’s like, okay. But people were really cruel at first. They didn’t like it. It took the industry kind of by storm, the talent shows.”
Clarkson added, “It was a very unlikable thing in the industry concerning the populous.”
She noted that it seems “hilarious” since “now there’s so many” talent shows on TV. Clarkson didn’t reveal anyone by name who was “really mean” and went on to coach on “The Voice.”
Kelly Clarkson Shared Unique Perspective as a Coach on ‘The Voice’
Clarkson also discussed her experience as a coach on “The Voice” for nine seasons, beginning in season 14 through season 21, as well as season 23. She was a coach for one season alongside Jennifer Hudson, another “American Idol” alum, and their experiences gave them a unique perspective.
“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 hard — it’s a grueling thing and its unforgiving in a lot of ways,” she explained.
Clarkson added, “And 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.”
During their interview, the singer also shared some thoughts on the struggle of being a working mom and missing out when kids have school performances during the day.
“And, then they go, ‘Why was this mom there?’ And, then you have to say, ‘Because that kid’s got a better mom,’” Clarkson joked.
