The Quiz: Who was the first winner of “American Idol”?
Carrie Underwood
Jordin Sparks
Kelly Clarkson
Ruben Studdard
Before she topped the charts with hits like “Since U Been Gone” and “My Life Would Suck Without You,” Kelly Clarkson was a contestant on the first season of FOX’s “American Idol” in 2002. After wowing judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and Simon Cowell throughout the competition, the Fort Worth, Texas, native earned millions of votes from viewers to beat Justin Guarini and become the show’s first-ever winner. Two decades later, Clarkson has her own daytime talk show, multiple Grammys, and nine studio albums under her belt. “American Idol,” for its part, aired its 20th season — now on ABC, with Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan serving as judges — in 2022.
The correct answer to this quiz is Kelly Clarkson.