Kelly Clarkson Admits She Never Got Her Car After Winning “American Idol” — but Next Season Runner-Up Clay Aiken Got 2

Jack IrvinWed, March 11, 2026 at 3:28 PM UTC

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Clay Aiken in November 2018; Kelly Clarkson in 2026Credit: Roy Rochlin/Getty; The Kelly Clarkson Show/YouTube -

Kelly Clarkson revealed she never received the car promised after winning season 1 of American Idol

Clarkson shared her frustration that season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken and his mom both received cars

In 2023, season 4 winner Carrie Underwood confirmed she still owns the Ford Mustang she received as part of her prize

Kelly Clarkson didn't exactly get the prizes she was promised after winning season 1 of American Idol.

During a conversation with The Traitors season 4 winner Rob Rausch and Daniel Radcliffe on the Tuesday, March 10 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the "Since U Been Gone" singer, 43, reflected on winning Idol and called out the series for not following through with its prizes.

The topic arose as Clarkson asked Rausch, 27, about his $220,800 prize from winning The Traitors. "They still haven't paid me," he said.

"You know what? I relate to this so hardcore," replied Clarkson. "I literally was on the show, and they were like, ‘Oh, you win a million dollars’ or whatever. No, you didn’t. It was, like, a million dollars worth of investment in you."

Radcliffe, 36, and Rausch both appeared shocked by the Grammy winner's admission. "And then they said you get a car, and I needed it ‘cause my car was bashed in, and I couldn’t afford the deductible," she continued.

"I did not get a car," exclaimed Clarkson. "And then Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car and his mom [also got a car]!"

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The "Where Have You Been" artist added, "I was like, ‘What the f---?’ I remember Clay telling me that the second season. He’s like, ‘Yeah, they gave my mom one.’ I was like, ‘I’m gonna actually kick your ass right now.’"

Radcliffe chimed in. "There should be some system where if you win something on the first season of something, whatever the prize has become, you should retroactively get that," said the Harry Potter actor.

Clarkson stood her ground. "No, it was supposed to be the prize then, okay? It was supposed to be the prize then," she said, turning her attention to Rausch. "That's why I'm saying, you might not see it. You might not see it. But, you know, I hope you got enough TV time."

American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson sings after winning the contest on September 4, 2002.Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty

While Clarkson may have never received her car, American Idol season 4 winner Carrie Underwood not only received a Ford Mustang convertible as part of her winning prize but still has it to this day.

"I do still have the car that I won when I won American Idol. So I have my blue Mustang," said Underwood, 43, during an interview on the Apple Music series Today’s Country Radio With Kelleigh Bannen in 2023.

"It always makes me want to drive it more, because it was such a pivotal point in my life," continued the "Before He Cheats" singer. "That was the car that I was driving around when I first moved to Tennessee, and I’m very, very glad I still have that car."

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”