American Idol winners: Where are they now?

Kelly Clarkson edged out runner-up Justin Guarini on Sept. 4, 2002, to become the very first winner of American Idol. The Texas-born singer joined the show to pursue a career in music, taking the winning title at the age of 20. She wrapped the finale with a famed performance of her debut single, “A Moment Like This.”

One of the most successful American Idol alums, Clarkson quickly became a star when the cameras stopped rolling. She dropped her debut album Thankful in April 2003, led by the hit single “Miss Independent.” Clarkson followed up soon after with the sophomore effort Breakaway, achieving multiplatinum status. The star won her first Grammy awards thanks to Breakaway, taking home Best Pop Vocal Album as well as Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Since U Been Gone.” Clarkson went on to release seven more studio albums—including 2015’s Piece by Piece and 2017’s Meaning of Life—performed at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013; and had two children (River Rose and Remy) with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock. The superstar also is a judge on The Voice; cohosted singing reality show American Song Contest; and landed her own talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show.