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Print This StoryVoters Elect Clarkson Their 'American Idol'
Singer Wins Record Deal
POSTED: 10:47 p.m. EDT September 4, 2002
UPDATED: 7:55 a.m. EDT September 5, 2002
The country has named Kelly Clarkson its "American Idol."
Clarkson, 20, of Burleson, Texas, and Justin Guarini, 23, of Doylestown, Pa., were the last two finalists standing at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, Calif., Wednesday night after an initial application of 10,000 contestants for the competition.
The two clasped hands more as friends than competitors during the winner announcement, as Guarini hugged and cheered Clarkson with as much enthusiasm as if he won himself.
Clarkson had few words to say in accepting her victory, instead trying to hold back tears.
"I'm pretty much thinking how I'm going to sing this next time while I'm crying," Clarkson said, humbly.
Asked for some parting words, Guarini said, "I'm so blessed to be up there its all because of you people" to the audience members. Then turning his attention to the winner, he said, "No one deserves this more than Kelly Clarkson."
Voters called votes into the network show during its summer run to determine week-to-week the person who would eventually be named the idol.
The final vote was split 58 percent to 42 percent in favor of Clarkson. More than 100 million votes were tallied over the course of the competiton.
In the two-hour show Wednesday night, all 10 contestants were back to perform, ending the night with a Medley of Motown hits from the likes of Martha and the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, and the Temptations.
Together, Clarkson and Gurarini sang the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell song "It Takes Two" and were joined by their fellow contestants to wrap up the set with the Gaye-Terrell classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."
Clarkson wins a record deal for becoming the "American Idol." She performed her ballad, "A Moment Like This," which will be released Sept. 17. Her debut album will soon follow.
She will also sing the national anthem at the Lincoln Memorial on Sept. 11, the Washington Post reported.
The contestants on "American Idol" will also be launching a concert tour that will play several venues across the country in October and November.
More Information: "American Idol" Tour Dates
Clarkson, 20, of Burleson, Texas, and Justin Guarini, 23, of Doylestown, Pa., were the last two finalists standing at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, Calif., Wednesday night after an initial application of 10,000 contestants for the competition.
The two clasped hands more as friends than competitors during the winner announcement, as Guarini hugged and cheered Clarkson with as much enthusiasm as if he won himself.
Clarkson had few words to say in accepting her victory, instead trying to hold back tears.
"I'm pretty much thinking how I'm going to sing this next time while I'm crying," Clarkson said, humbly.
Asked for some parting words, Guarini said, "I'm so blessed to be up there its all because of you people" to the audience members. Then turning his attention to the winner, he said, "No one deserves this more than Kelly Clarkson."
Voters called votes into the network show during its summer run to determine week-to-week the person who would eventually be named the idol.
The final vote was split 58 percent to 42 percent in favor of Clarkson. More than 100 million votes were tallied over the course of the competiton.
In the two-hour show Wednesday night, all 10 contestants were back to perform, ending the night with a Medley of Motown hits from the likes of Martha and the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, and the Temptations.
Together, Clarkson and Gurarini sang the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell song "It Takes Two" and were joined by their fellow contestants to wrap up the set with the Gaye-Terrell classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."
Clarkson wins a record deal for becoming the "American Idol." She performed her ballad, "A Moment Like This," which will be released Sept. 17. Her debut album will soon follow.
She will also sing the national anthem at the Lincoln Memorial on Sept. 11, the Washington Post reported.
The contestants on "American Idol" will also be launching a concert tour that will play several venues across the country in October and November.
More Information: "American Idol" Tour DatesCopyright 2003 by Channel3000.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
