The Kelly Clarkson Host reflected on winning the first season of AI in September 2002. Kelly Clarkson has come a long way since her American Idol days, but that doesn’t mean she’s forgotten about her humbling beginnings.
The musician went on social media to celebrate the 21st anniversary of her winning the inaugural season of American Idol. Kelly uploaded a photo of herself the moment she found out she won AI, when she was just 20 years old. She reminisced in the caption about just how special that day (which happened to be September 4, 2002) was in her life.
“21 years,” she emotionally wrote on September 4. “#MondayMemories #AmericanIdol.” And she wasn’t the only one taking note of the special occasion. Shortly after she shared her thoughts about being named victor more than two decades earlier, American Idol’s social team made sure to celebrate the instance alongside her with a simple statement. “The G.O.A.T. 💙,” read the official reply.
What’s more, fans immediately got emotional when they learned that The Kelly Clarkson Show host opened up about the momentous milestone online. This led them to rush to the comments with their own passionate views.
“You are our idol in our ♥️ forever,” one person wrote on Instagram. “@kellyclarkson They broke the mold with you. Here’s to the next 21. ❤️❤️❤️,” another replied. “Thank you for the past 21 years of music and entertainment!! Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us over the next 21 years!!” a different follower added.
Just as Kelly commented about the memory she’ll never forget, others were also remembering that novel time on primetime television. X user @notgwendalupe posted the throwback clip showcasing the exact moment the Grammy winner learned she won American Idol, which quickly went viral with close to seven million views on the platform.
Congrats, Kelly on all that you’ve accomplished over the years!