Kelly Clarkson says American Idol still owes her a car

“I relate to this so hard core, ’cause when I won—you probably weren’t alive when I was on American Idol—I literally was on the show and they were like, oh, you win a million dollars, whatever… No you didn’t! They lied. It was like a million dollars worth of investment in you,” began an audibly distraught Clarkson.  “And then they said you get a car, and I needed it because my car was bashed in and I couldn’t afford a deductible and, no! I did not get a car. And then Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car and his mom [got one]! I was like what the fuck! I remember Clay telling me about the second season. He’s like, yeah they gave my mom one. I was like, I’m gonna actually kick your ass right now.” She then told Rausch, “You might not see it.” 

In 2023, Clarkson revealed she had actually slept in her car for a few days shortly before she auditioned for American Idol after the apartment she was living in in Los Angeles burned down. Of course, now she can presumably buy any car she wants, but it’s the principle of the thing. Hopefully Peacock treats Rob Rausch a bit better than Fox treated Kelly Clarkson!