Kelly Clarkson Gets Long-Awaited Star on Walk of Fame
It was an 'American Idol' reunion at its finest.
In music news that honestly should have happened a long time ago, Kelly Clarkson was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame Monday morning — exactly 20 years after she was crowned American Idol’s Season one winner. OG American Idol judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul both gave speeches toasting Clarkson’s long list of outstanding achievements. Randy Jackson, who completes their judge trio, was also in attendance.
“The trajectory of your life has changed, but you helped change the trajectory of everyone’s lives. Your talent, your tenacity, your grace, your dignity made Season one all worth it, for me having to sit next to a British guy,” Abdul said in her speech.
Abdul added that once she got news of Clarkson’s induction ceremony, she immediately changed her flight plans to be here. “I love you. Thank you for changing the trajectory of my life and making me believe like a kid believes in Santa Clause that young talented people can make it, and they can make it big time.”
In his speech, Cowell recalled American Idol Season one basically being a dumpster fire until Clarkson’s audition. “I actually thought I was being Punked on the first day. Paula resigned, every singer was out of tune, and I thought this was a joke, and it got worse progressively. I thought, ‘This is an absolute disaster,’” he said.
Once Clarkson stepped through those doors, Cowell felt the whole energy in the room shift. “I remember the day we met you, and I remember not just your voice, but your personality. I got to be honest with you, I didn’t realize at that point honestly, how talented you were…I was so thankful,” he said.
Those who didn’t tune in to see Clarkson’s historic win on American Idol are missing an important piece of the puzzle from yesterday’s ceremony.
Steps away from her star is the Dolby Theater, the home to American Idol.
“Well, her song had the word moment in it, ‘A Moment Like This,” and she won a few feet from where we’re standing now at the Dolby Theater, so we’ve literally gone full circle,” Cowell said. “Twenty years later, she’s getting the star.”
Clarkson was a bit speechless about the day’s events and significance, too.
“I mean, it’s hard to put into words right? I’m sitting here with my son, he’s six, and we’re standing on a star that has my name on it. It’s crazy,” Clarkson told Fox News Digital.
“I was 19 years old when I started on ‘Idol,’ and for it to end here 20 years later, it’s magical. To be able to still, first of all call all those people friends and still have them have a presence in my life, I think that’s what counts. After 20 years, it’s the people you surround yourself with.”
In the words of Lizzo, It’s about damn time!
