A moment like this. Fourteen years after winning the inaugural season of American Idol, Kelly Clarkson paid tribute to the hit Fox singing competition that launched her successful career with a sweet message.
“14 yrs ago 2day @AmericanIdol opened a door w/such amazing opportunities & experiences 4 me!” the 34-year-old singer wrote on Twitter on Sunday, September 4. “I am 4ever grateful & blessed! #heresto14more.”
14 yrs ago 2day @AmericanIdol opened a door w/such amazing opportunities & experiences 4 me! I am 4ever grateful & blessed! #heresto14more ?
— Kelly Clarkson (@kelly_clarkson) September 4, 2016
As fans know, a 20-year-old Clarkson was crowned the first-ever Idol champ in September 2002 (beating out runner-up Justin Guarini) just moments before belting an emotional rendition of her first single “A Moment Like This” in front of judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.
Since then, the “Piece by Piece” singer-songwriter has gone on to win three Grammy Awards and has accumulated 100 Billboard No. 1 hits, including “My Life Would Suck Without You” and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).”
Clarkson has also toured the world countless times, released a critically acclaimed Christmas album and welcomed two children, 2-year-old daughter River and 4-month-old son Remington, with her husband, talent manager Brandon Blackstock.
Earlier this summer, Clarkson announced that she signed a long-term record deal with Atlantic Records after 15 years with RCA Records. In celebration of the major deal, Clarkson has been covering some of her favorite songs (including Rihanna‘s “Love on the Brain” and Otis Redding’s “These Arms of Mine”) in a summer Facebook Live series.
