Despite beating Doylestown’s Justin Guarini on the first season of American Idol, Kelly Clarkson recently revealed she never received the prize she was promised, writes Anthony Robledo for USA Today.
According to the singer and host of The Kelly Clarkson Show, after winning nearly 25 years ago, she was never given the $1 million check or the car that she was owed.
Guarini, while receiving no cash prize, landed a recording contract with RCA as part of his deal with the producers of American Idol.
Rather than the money she was owed, Clarkson said the series gave her “a $1 million worth of investment in you.”
The singer won the first season on Sept. 4, 2002, performing renditions of hits like “Respect” by Aretha Franklin and “At Last” by Etta James.
Clarkson and Guarini performed a duet of “It Takes Two” by Kim Weston and Marvin Gaye, which she revealed was a last-minute decision from the series’ producers.
While Clarkson went on to win Grammys and even serve as a coach on The Voice, Guarini moved on to Broadway.
The Central Bucks School District grad also wrote his book, Center Stage Confidence, and has appeared as Dr. Pepper’s pitchman, Lil’ Sweet.
Read more about Kelly Clarkson’s American Idol experience and Justin Guarini’s own journey at USA Today.
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