Kelly Clarkson crowned 'American Idol'
Mark Washburn
The Charlotte Observer September 5, 2002, Thursday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ You may not know the name of Miss America, but you better know the name of Kelly Clarkson or you won't have a speaking role in water cooler conversation Thursday.

Crowned American Idol before an opinionated audience of millions Wednesday night, the dimpled Texan with a thousand-watt smile rode to stardom aboard a program that started as an over-hyped talent show and wound up being the antidote to the nation's summer of discontent.

Embraced by competitor Justin Guarini, whom she bested (and befriended) in a 13-week series of eliminations, Clarkson, 20, laid claim to a lucrative recording contract and delivered its first song Wednesday night, "A Moment Like This." The single will be released Sept. 17.

"American Idol" started June 11 with 120 finalists. Clarkson survived numerous cuts, including those from judge Simon Cowell, a black-clad Brit whose stinging critiques sharpened the program's tension.

As the buzz grew, so did the audience. It was the most-watched show of the summer and brought to Fox a flashy ending to a lackluster programming year.

Tuesday night's program, featuring the sing-off that viewers could judge, then vote by phone to pick the winner revealed Wednesday, reached 18 million viewers, about 5 million more than tuned into last year's Miss America Pageant.

"American Idol" was on the screens of nearly a fifth of the televisions turned on between 8 and 9 p.m. EDT Tuesday in the Charlotte market, the kind of rating usually reserved for something big, like the birth of Rachel's baby on "Friends."

Clarkson, who grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, brought a down-home innocence to her weekly appearances but could belt the tunes with voice power that electrified high-energy numbers like "It's Raining Men" and "Respect." She liked to guild her final flourishes with a range of notes that brought the audience to its feet.

Guarini, 23, of Doylestown, Pa., sang the duet "It Takes Two" with Clarkson before the winner was announced. He was a class act even in the losing role, proclaiming, "No one deserves it more than this woman."