Because of Kelly Clarkson.
Jordin Sparks confirmed on “Today” Monday that she did receive her prize for winning “American Idol,” one week after Clarkson put the “lying” show on blast for stiffing her after Season 1.
“I got my car,” the Season 6 winner, 36, told Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones.
Noting that “the first season of anything is a little crazy,” the “Tattoo” singer joked, “I hope they give [Clarkson] one now. Send her a Ford.”
Clarkson, 43, recently revealed on her eponymous talk show that Season 2 winner Clay Aiken received a car for winning the competition the year after she did — plus an additional vehicle for his mom.
Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood, for her part, told Apple Music in 2023 (via People) that she still had the Mustang she was given post-“American Idol.”
When Clarkson emerged victorious over Justin Guarini during the premiere season in 2002, she “needed” the car she was promised since hers was “bashed in.”
However, the Grammy winner told “Traitors” winner Rob Rausch in a March 10 sitdown that she “couldn’t afford the deductible” and “did not get a car” as a result.
During her rant, Clarkson also exposed the show for not delivering on their vow of “one million dollars” for winners.
“They lied,” she claimed. “It was like a million dollars’ worth of investment in you.”
Last year, Clarkson gushed over her experience on the show while celebrating the 23rd anniversary via Instagram.
“To everyone that took time 23 years ago to call in and vote for me, thank you,” she wrote in September 2025. “Winning ‘American Idol’ changed my life, and I will be forever grateful for all of you that have supported me for so many years.”
At the time, the performer concluded, “It is a gift to find your purpose and passion, and to be able to make a living doing it is the cherry on top. Thank you, always.”
Since her success on the show, the songwriter has released 10 studio albums and coached aspiring singers on “The Voice.”
Clarkson began hosting her daytime talk show in 2019 but is retiring from the role this fall after seven seasons in order to “prioritize” daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9.
The little ones, notably, lost their dad, Brandon Blackstock, to cancer last year.
As for Clarkson’s next steps, she teased, “This isn’t goodbye. I’ll still be making music, playing shows here and there and you may catch me on ‘The Voice’ from time to time … you never know where I might show up next.”
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