Kelly Clarkson has always been open about her journey from American Idol winner to pop sensation, and now, she’s opening up more than ever.
During her latest appearance on Kylie Kelce’s Not Gonna Lie podcast on March 27, Clarkson, 42, revealed a side of her post-Idol life that fans might not know. Despite winning the competition in 2002, she wasn’t exactly living the glamorous millionaire life.
“After I won Idol, people were like, ‘Oh, she’s a millionaire,'” Clarkson recalled with a laugh. “But no. I wasn’t. They said I had a ‘million-dollar contract.’ Nope. I didn’t. They promised a car. Nope. Didn’t get that either.”
The “Since U Been Gone” singer went on to describe the real hustle she faced in the early years. “We were playing festivals in the middle of cow s—, setting up our own gear,” she admitted, highlighting how tough the grind was.
Clarkson, known for her powerful voice and down-to-earth attitude, made it clear: the grind never stops. “Every bit of it was a hustle,” she said. “At 42, it’s still a hustle.”
Reflecting on her time on the first season of American Idol, Clarkson shared that none of the contestants were expecting fame or fortune. “I didn’t even know Idol was a TV show until my third audition. We were just trying to pay our bills,” she confessed.
She went on to explain the difficult financial situation she was in before the show. “We were literally, like, kids. I was 19, just trying to pay my electric bill and afford the deductible on my car,” Clarkson recalled.
The first season of American Idol wasn’t just a challenge financially—it was also an isolating experience. Clarkson revealed how tough it was to be the first-ever winner. “I had no one. I was the first winner. It was hard,” she admitted.
In the interview, she also took a moment to talk about the early criticism from some coaches on The Voice, where Clarkson later became a fan-favorite coach for nine seasons. “People were really mean at first,” she said. “Some of the coaches on The Voice were actually really cruel after I won Idol.”
She added: “It’s funny because some of those who were so against talent shows later ended up being coaches. It took the industry by storm, but at first, it was such an unliked thing in the industry.”
Clarkson’s journey from a small-town girl to a global superstar has been anything but easy. But as she says, it’s all been part of the hustle, and it’s a hustle that continues to pay off in big ways today.
The pop powerhouse remains as grounded as ever, despite all the fame and success. “It was hard, but it made me who I am today,” Clarkson said. “And I wouldn’t change a thing.”
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