Clarkson Omits 'Idol' Mention at Grammys
During Kelly Clarkson's two long, tearful Grammy acceptance speeches, the "American Idol" winner pointedly left out any mention of the show that made her famous.
Clarkson won two Grammys on Wednesday night in Los Angeles: best pop vocal album for "Breakaway" and female pop vocal performance for "Since U Been Gone."
Accepting those awards, the 23-year-old Clarkson thanked everyone from the musicians who performed on her album to radio itself. "American Idol," however, went unmentioned.
Backstage at the Staples Center, she defended the omission: "I did thank the fans, and that's 'American Idol.'"
That the prestigious Recording Academy would honor a former reality TV contestant surprised many, but also excited her fans.
"I think it's amazing. It validates the show," said "Idol" judge Randy Jackson during a party afterward. "I'm really happy for her. I think she's really over the moon because I think she thought she'd never win it."
Ironically, "American Idol" still got the best of Clarkson in a way. The Fox show ran Wednesday evening opposite CBS' Grammys broadcast.
During "Idol," 15.1 million people watched the Grammys, according to Nielsen Media Research figures released Thursday; 28.3 million watched "American Idol."