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.

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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.