Kelly Clarkson finally got her own star during the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony this past Monday.
The original judging panel — Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul — were present to support Clarkson.
Original ‘American Idol’ Judges Reunite Pay Tribute To Kelly Clarkson’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony
The three posed for photos with Clarkson as she displayed her star.
Cowell spoke at the ceremony, praising Clarkson and the career she has crafted since winning the singing competition during its inaugural season.
“We were just talking about the moment when you sang ‘Respect,’ and we all looked at each other, and it was like, ‘Oh. My. God. Thank you.’ And then, I went up to you, afterward, because obviously, I was thinking, ‘I think you’re gonna win this show,’ and I said, ‘I just wanna say, that was amazing, Kelly, and I’m here,’ and you turned around to me and said, ‘Simon, without being rude, I would rather we didn’t talk until the end of the series,’ and I’m like, ‘Wow, what does that mean?’ It means, stay away from me, I know what I’m doing,'” Cowell recalled of Clarkson’s time on American Idol.
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To which Clarkson informed the longtime judge that she didn’t want it to appear that she was getting any special treatment from the judges and she also didn’t want Cowell — long known for his tough critique on the show — to get in her head either.
“What was amazing from that moment was, is that you’re not messing around. You’re gonna take this opportunity, and you’re gonna get all the way to the end, and then when you get to the end, it’s just beginning,” he continued. “And I remember that moment when your name was called and I was — I was honestly thinking to myself, ‘Thanks to you, we may have another season.’ I can honestly say to you, ‘Thanks to you, I’m here today.'”
Cowell continued to thank Clarkson for not only assisting in his career but in the success of American Idol, which has gone on to boast eighteen seasons since its inception in 2002.
“I said that, because you validated what we did because if we didn’t find a star, there’s no point in doing these shows. ” the former American Idol judge shared. “And I could never predict what was gonna happen then, and I remember sitting there talking to the record label at the time, I said, ‘I don’t think you realize who you signed here, this girl has steel in her eyes.'”
Cowell continued, “I always say if someone knows their lane, you’re gonna be a star if you got the talent. And Kelly has always known her lane.”
Clarkson’s family also joined her for the ceremony, with her mother, her daughter, River, 8, and son, Remington, 6, also by her side.
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