Kelly Clarkson How soon she forgets
 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Kelly Clarkson beat a few superstars -- Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow and Paul McCartney -- to become the first contestant from "American Idol" to win Grammy awards on Wednesday, but she forgot to thank the wildly popular TV talent show that made her famous.

ADVERTISEMENT

Clarkson thanked Jesus, God, the radio, her fans and her mother when she picked up Grammys for best pop vocal album and for best female pop vocal performance, but in two speeches she omitted any mention of "American Idol," which aired on Fox against the CBS broadcast of the 48th annual Grammy Awards for part of the night.

An overwhelmed Clarkson, who could not hold back tears during her first acceptance speech, could not believe her good fortune in winning the second.

"I don't know what is going on but thank you Jesus and God and everyone else who supported my career," she said.

Clarkson picked up the Grammy for best female pop vocal performance for her hit, "Since U Been Gone," and also performed her single "Because of You" on the telecast.

When asked backstage why she didn't mention "American Idol" in her acceptance speeches, she said she had in fact thanked the show indirectly by thanking her fans. She said she also forgot to thank a lot of important people in her life.

"I forgot to thank my dad and the rest of my family. I did thank the fans and that's 'American Idol,"' she said, noting that her omission had nothing to do with sharp recent criticism of her by "Idol" judge Simon Cowell.

A CBS spokesman said Clarkson was never restricted from mentioning the rival network's talent show, which ranks as the most-watched series on U.S. television.

"She's absolutely free to say whatever she wants up there," he said.

A few weeks ago, "American Idol" judge Cowell slammed Clarkson, saying she refused to let the show that launched her career use her hits on the program. But a spokesman for the pop star denied there was ever a dispute over song rights.

The spokesman said then that Clarkson, the biggest "Idol" success story, had been happy to hear her song, "Since U Been Gone," on "American Idol" the previous night. A contestant on the premiere of the show's fifth season warbled Clarkson's massive hit in the first few minutes of the program.

The first "Idol" champion, Clarkson has gone on to sell nearly 7 million U.S. copies of her first two albums combined, "Thankful" and "Breakaway."

Cowell had said Clarkson would be making a "big mistake" if she barred "Idol" from using her songs after the show catapulted her to stardom. "No matter how talented Kelly Clarkson is, she would not be in the position she's in now without winning this show," he said.

As for Clarkson, she said there was no problem and she thought maybe "American Idol" was seeking publicity.

I think it has more to do with the machine that is AI, not the fans or the actual "contest" - those contracts are heinous and if I were her, I'd be the same way

AI had nothing to do with her current success in winning those Grammys. Grammys are, although completely retarded, supposed to be an award for artistic excellence. AI had nothing to do with this record, which is why it doesn't suck.

Viva le Kelly!@!

While I sorta agree with what you are saying..I can;t help but think but if not for AI she never would of gotten to where she is now.! She might of eventually made it on her own..Maybe..but AI took that first chance .

She probably wants to breakaway from the Americal Idol image. Get it? Breakaway?! Ahh...I slay me. Anyway...I think she did thank the fans, and thats all that really matters because the fans are who VOTE on the damn show. Yeesh.

Pssttt you following me???? ha ha ha

Yeah, those AI contracts are some kind of f*cked up. Good for Kelly for sticking it to them, if in fact she did.

Personally, I think if she had had all this success like she's had in this last year right after her first album - and won Grammies and stuff... then I think it maybe would have been acceptable to thank American Idol.

But she's proved herself with this second album - it's way bigger then the first one and probably way better (I haven't heard the first one) and I think she's moved past American Idol now.... Maybe later down the road when she's been successful for many years she can look back and thank the people again from where it started... sort of a reflection type thing.

I just think it's silly that apparently for the rest of her career she's going to have to thank them constantly- for what? Making her appear in crappy movies and do songs and appearances she doesn't want to do because of her Draconian contract?

There's a reason that Kelly has succeeded in ways that none of the other winners or runners up have- her talent. I just hate to see her get shortchanged because of her affiliation with the show, which is why I am all in favor of her breaking those ties. I mean, more people watched the succeeding seasons of AI than hers, but have Ruben, Clay, Fantasia, etc. even approached her success? It's her victory, not AI's.

let me save you the trouble, it sucked, with the exception of the one song with the other girl from AI that season and beautiful disaster

Speaking of Ruben, did he just fall off the face of the earth or what? :laugh:

Have to agree with you on this!I wonder though..is it because she is org.from AI the audience didn;t seem to be ..how do I say it..receptive to her performance?

What's the story on those?

I believe it boils down to the fact that they pretty much own your ass for a good while, I don't know how long the contract is binding...Haley?

I think this info is on Smoking Gun. You basically become indentured to them. I agree with you Hayley, these songs are better. I love the song she won for and when I first heard it I did not know it was her because of the style of it, it is such a rocking song! I love Kelly, she's great.

yep. they tell you what to sing, where to sing it and when to sing it - NO decisions are yours and you are under obligation to do any project they tell you to. if you wanted to sing at your brother's birthday party for free, nope, can't do it. appearances...all decided by them.

Yeah, it's all on Smoking Gun. I don't remember how long the contracts are for, but it's for several albums and several years. They're also basically required to do the AI tour for PEANUTS- like, a couple hundred dollars per performance, and required to make appearances on the show at Simon Fuller's whim. They have very little control over what songs they are allowed to record and what their album will be like, including photographs and album title.

Kelly was able to sue to get out of her contract, I'm sure at least one or two of them have since as well.

ETA: I am not a pop music fan, I'm a total music snob, a look at my Last.fm will show you that, but I will unabashedly say that I LOVE Breakaway. I think it's fantastic. Something Kelly should be really proud of. Since U Been Gone was my favorite song of the year.

Its a great tune, "I'm so movin' on, yeah yeah!!!" You tell him, Kell! I didn't realize she sued to get out of her contract. Good for her!

Yes, you are a music snob :laugh: Just kidding, I like a lot of the stuff on there, most notably Cat Power and Neko Case. Speaking of Cat Power, what do you think about her new album? Uh-oh THREADJACK!!

THREADJACK'D!

I think the new Cat Power is amazing. I have a feeling in a few months it will be my favorite of her career. But, as much as I want to listen to it, I cannot stop listening to the new Belle and Sebastian, The Life Pursuit. Have you ever checked out B&S?

So do you think that Kelly or Carrie will end up being the most sucessful idol winner? BTW, there was a FANTASIA sighting at the grammmys last night....:eek: :lol:

Your list reads like the SXSW list! Cat Power is ill and has cancelled her tour. I think she was on the same bill as Belle and Sebastian at Stubb's. Neko Case is coming...

And Tracye, I just heard that deSol's showcase is going to be midnight on Thursday, don't know the venue yet...I'm just glad they're not playing Friday nite, cuz that's when The Pretenders are at Stubb's.

Mmmkay, end of my hijacking. Carry on!

B&S are coming through here but I don't know if I want to go- New Pornographers are opening and I HAAAATE them.

Oh, a band I think both of you would like is Silver Jews, have you ever heard them?

Un-hijack!!

Awww.... I love Kelly. She is my guilty pleasure and I say, give the girl a break. I don't think she has to wear the Idol name for the rest of her life and/or career. I've never watched an Idol show in my life, and truth be told, I didn't know she was an Idol winner when I fell in love with Since U Been Gone. And then Behind These Hazel Eyes. And Because of You. :o I agree with the post way up above that said had she won the Grammy off her first album, maybe then she'd owe them a thanks. But the girl has moved beyond AI, I think. And she still makes me want to jump up and down when I hear the chorus to Since U Been Gone. Perfect pop. It ain't brain surgery, but it's damn good fun. :nod:

I had no idea she sued to get out of her contract. I love Kelly... wish I'd got tickets to see her over here

The Pretenders will be kick ass. I saw Cat Power at the last SXSW so I'm not too disapointed she won't be playing this year, although, I'd love to hear the stuff off of the new album.

And Hayley, I don't know what it is about that new album, but the arrangements remind me of Joni Mitchell, somewhere between her Hejira/Court and Spark years. It's taking some getting used to listening to a Cat Power album that has sophisticated arrangements! And that being said, have you heard her work with The Dirty Three? That is a pairing from heaven. I'm familiar with Belle and Sebastian, I just haven't ever really gotten into them, my husband loves them! I don't think I've heard The Silver Jews, what are they like?

Oh yeah, I'm not a big New Pornographers fan either, but I LOVE Neko Case, but er, backed by Calexico or The Sadies or some other similar kind of band.

Echo & the Bunnymen are doing a free show at Auditorium Shores.

I don't think any of the AI winners will succeed, honestly. Kelly is really, really lucky. She has an amazing voice, but it's not terribly resiliant in that after a couple shows it's gone...I hope she takes care of it. None of the other idols have as much of a well-rounded appeal as Kelly.

Technically, maybe she should have thanked them since if it wasn't for them, she'd still be in Texas, but in her defense, maybe she just forgot. She really did not expect to win, so I think she was just plain shocked. I mean, look at the women in her category. I don't have her first CD, but I do have Breakaway & I play it all the time. I love it & her. I even have her "Since You've Been Gone" video on my iPod. And I've heard she puts on a heck of a good concert. So congrats to her Grammy wins, & I hope she gets more in the future. :thumbsup:

Lee :)

you know, I wonder about things like this sometimes.

I mean, if you believe in destiny...maybe she would've made it anyway.

Are you going? Stupid question.

I don't know how many day shows I'm going to catch this year, I went to EVERYTHING last year, day shows, night shows, you name it, and I was BEAT!! My feet hurt for a week from all the standing. I think I might be getting too old for this sh*t :laugh::p