Simon Cowell appears again on Kelly Clarkson’s “American Idol” win: ‘It was like a film’

It's been 23 years since American Idol first started its expertise search and struck gold by introducing the world to a younger Kelly Clarkson.

Although loads of time has handed — and 22 different winners have come and gone — OG decide Simon Cowell has not forgotten the magical second when Clarkson was topped the inaugural American Idol.

"Oh, it was like a dream," the British producer and TV staple not too long ago instructed the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast. "I do bear in mind truly saying to somebody, hypothetically, 'I'm sure there’s somebody on the market and she or he’s in all probability working in a bar, has tried to get a deal, can’t get into the best individuals or the label, however is good.' I simply had that feeling."

Admittedly, Cowell had his doubts as soon as the casting course of started in earnest. "A number of the early individuals we noticed within the first couple of cities — everybody was horrible," he stated bluntly. "So I believed this present could possibly be a catastrophe."

However expertise quickly emerged and throughout the preliminary pool of 30 semifinalists was the eventual winner. Little did they know that her success would solely balloon from there, with Clarkson ultimately turning into an simple chart-topping, Grammy-winning celebrity.

"You couldn’t have requested for a extra good winner," Cowell stated of the singer. "And we’re nonetheless pals right this moment. She’s [an] superb individual, unbelievable persona. And simply this killer voice. It was like a film."

In typical Cowell vogue, the Brit couldn't mirror on the topic with out voicing a couple of vital phrases about one other contestant. Clarkson's 2002 win noticed her rating extra votes than fellow finalist Justin Guarini — however Cowell maintains that the Georgia-born runner-up by no means ought to've made it that far to start with.

Simon Cowell acknowledges 'being a d—' on 'American Idol': 'I'm sorry' Kelly Clarkson didn't know 'American Idol' was a TV show when she auditioned

"I simply want it wasn’t the man. There was this different woman, Tamyra [Gray], and she or he was phenomenal," Cowell shared. "And the 2 of them within the closing [episode], that might have been superb. However it didn’t fairly work out."

Requested whether or not he thought Guarini posed any risk to Clarkson's victory, he added, "No means. I feel he can be the primary to confess it himself."

On that fateful fall evening of Sept. 4, 2002, after a grueling 12 weeks of competitors, Clarkson beat Guarini and have become the singing competitors's first-ever victor. And whereas winners of actuality reveals like Idol now generally tend to fade into obscurity after the crowning second, Clarkson beat the percentages. She has since launched a number of platinum-certified data, earned three Grammy Awards, returned to the present as a decide, and even segued herself into movie and tv, incomes a complete of seven Emmys for her long-running daytime speak present, The Kelly Clarkson Present.

As for her relationship with Cowell, the duo have certainly remained shut. In 2022, Cowell honored the singer at a ceremony celebrating her star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame. He recounted their hilarious first interplay and praised her illustrious profession, stating that she has all the time been deserving of her success.

"She's a type of individuals who, from day one, was respectful to the individuals who voted for her, who purchased her data, who purchased her tickets — and she or he's by no means misplaced that," Cowell instructed the group. "The Kelly you see in entrance of the digital camera is that Kelly you see behind the digital camera."

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The speech additionally noticed Cowell credit score Clarkson and her win with launching the present into the stratosphere, and making its 23-year legacy potential. "I do not forget that second when your identify was known as, and I used to be pondering to myself, 'Because of you, we could have one other season,'" he shared. "I can truthfully say to you, due to you. You validated what we did, as a result of if we didn't discover a star, there was no level in doing these reveals."

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