Kelly Clarkson Thought Being on ‘American Idol’ Was a Joke

Singer and actress Kelly Clarkson, who won the first season of American Idol in 2003, explained that she had no idea the singing competition would become a TV success. 

Per ET Canada, Kelly Clarkson appeared on comedian Kevin Hart’s Peacock talk show, Hart To Heart. The “Broken & Beautiful” singer reflected on her journey with American Idol.

Hart said to Clarkson that her journey in the music industry was hard to navigate because “You were truly thrown in it, because (of) what started off as an audition as a shot in a million.” Clarkson added, “Which we thought was a joke.”

kevin hart’s “hart to heart” with kelly clarkson is so fricking funny, especially the end

— Steven Crocker (@stevencrocker) August 18, 2021

When asked what she meant, Clarkson responded, “We all thought it was kind of a joke. I mean, we didn’t think it was gonna come of anything. We were the first season of American Idol, so we were there for that paycheck that (the Screen Actors Guild) gives you to pay for some bills. Nobody knew that anything would actually come to fruition. That’s what everyone hopes, but that doesn’t usually happen.”

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— J.Q. Money III, Esq. the Ebonitician© (@nuttinbuttgrilz) August 15, 2021

The Trolls World Tour actress continued, “We were thrown into it. I will say I am thankful for that at the same time because I think I skipped the surreal part. Like… it really doesn’t matter to me, in the best sense. It matters, but it matters for the worth that I give it.” She also revealed that she was thrown quickly into her singing career, so she didn’t have time to get swallowed by society’s standard, “You have to do this, you have to be this.”

Season 20 of American Idol will premiere later this year.