Kelly Clarkson’s Home Burned Down Before She Auditioned for ‘American Idol’
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During a recent episode of her talk show, Kelly Clarkson opened up about what her life was like before she auditioned for American Idol. The singer shared that her home burned down and she was living in her car.
Kelly Clarkson on Life Before American Idol Audition
Clarkson interviewed actor Kevin Bacon, who shared his story of moving to New York City and living with a random stranger. He said he and his former roommate are still friends to this day, and he recently had lunch with him.
That prompted Clarkson to share that she moved from Texas to Los Angeles with “some random person I did not know” who “needed a roommate.” However, that living situation didn’t last for very long.
“We moved into a place and it burned down,” Clarkson told Bacon. “Then I slept in my car for a few days, and then tried out for a show called American Idol. So it all worked out.”
The singer said it seems like a lot of people in the entertainment industry have stories like that, adding, “You really got to want your dream. The universe makes you really want it.”
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Clarkson Won Season 1 in 2002
Clarkson was just 20 years old when she auditioned for American Idol in 2002. She went on to win the inaugural season of the show, with Justin Guarini coming in second place. Clarkson signed a record deal with RCA Records, 19 Recordings, and S Records.
Since winning the show, Clarkson has released 10 studio albums, starting with Thankful in 2003. Her most recent album, Chemistry, was released earlier this year. Her discography also includes two Christmas albums — Wrapped in Red in 2013, and When Christmas Comes Around… in 2021.
Clarkson and fellow winner Fantasia Barrino recently bonded over how much they hate watching old clips of themselves on the show. However, Clarkson called her time on the show a “door that opened up so much access and opportunity.”
