4, 2002 - but her journey to superstardom had only just begun.Ĭlarkson's winning prize included a recording contract with RCA Records, and her debut album, Thankful, arrived a short seven months after she clinched the 'Idol' crown. She was crowned the very first American Idol on Sept. Over the course of the next 13 weeks, the singing competition became the surprise hit of the summer, and its millions of viewers fell in love with Clarkson's bubbly, infectious personality and unforgettable voice.
In May 2002, a fresh-faced, 19-year-old Kelly showed up in Dallas to audition for a brand new reality show called 'American Idol.' She belted out Madonna 's 'Express Yourself' and Etta James ' 'At Last' in a homemade outfit she'd crafted from an old pair of jeans, claiming, 'I'm gonna be a fashion designer if this doesn't work out.' Just before she received a golden ticket from judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell, the show's narrator offered a fortuitous prediction: 'call it a hunch, but we don't think Kelly is gonna need that plan.' The pop star may be on the verge of releasing her tenth album, chemistry while simultaneously hosting one of today's most beloved talk shows, but she's been America's sweetheart since the day fans first met her. Kelly Clarkson 's path to stardom is the stuff of modern legend.
