Kelly Clarkson, the winner of the inaugural season of "American Idol," has grown into one of the show's brightest stars, but her journey began with a surprising twist: she had no idea the auditions were for a televised competition.

Speaking on Kylie Kelce's podcast, "Not Gonna Lie," the 42-year-old singer revealed that she discovered the show's televised nature only during her third audition. "For all of us in that first season, we literally didn't ... I didn't even know it was a TV show until my third audition," Clarkson said. "We were just trying to pay our bills. We're like, 'Oh, this might work. I might meet someone or whatever.' Nobody knew it was gonna amount to anything."

At just 19 years old, Clarkson had modest aspirations—to scrape together enough money to pay her electric bill or cover the deductible for her damaged car. Her realism about the grind of everyday life makes her story even more relatable.

Back then, singing competition shows like "Pop Stars" were already on the air, but Clarkson noted that the contestants of "American Idol's" first season had no clue about the potential impact of the show. "It was a different thing," she explained, especially after her first single, "Miss Independent," hit the airwaves, paving the way for future contestants to see what was possible.

Her success was swift and undeniable. Clarkson's debut album, "Thankful," released in 2003, was followed by "Breakaway," which included chart-topping hits like "Since U Been Gone," "Behind These Hazel Eyes," and "Because of You." These milestones helped her secure three Grammy Awards and 17 nominations over the years.

The interview also touched on her popular talk show segment "Kellyoke," where Clarkson performs covers of famous songs. While many fans believe she outshines the original artists, Clarkson took a humble stance, saying, "If I sang those songs right now that I sang on ‘Idol,’ 20 some years ago, they would sound better now. I was all right, but it's just like you're a better singer because you have time and experience." She emphasized that modern artists often lack the time to evolve similarly.

Clarkson admitted feeling lonely as the first winner, navigating an industry that largely disliked talent shows at the time. "They didn’t like it," she said. "It took the industry kind of by storm... Now there’s so many." She faced hostility and judgment, which she believes shaped her compassionate approach as a coach on "The Voice."

Reflecting on the audition process, Clarkson acknowledged the immense pressure on contestants. "People like us who have been there in that audition process... it's a grueling thing and it's unforgiving in a lot of ways," she said, noting that many well-established artists might struggle in such conditions.

Her candidness about the ups and downs of her career and her empathetic insights into the music world make Clarkson not just an icon but a genuinely relatable figure. It's hard not to root for someone who went from worrying about electric bills to winning Grammys.

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American Idol Winner Kelly Clarkson Didn't Know the Show Was Televised When She Signed Up