Sunday, June 7, 2026

Irony: Kelly Clarkson Won the Very 1st American Idol 18 Years Ago Hosted by Simon Cowell, Whom She Now Replaces on “America’s Got Talent”

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18 years. The student replaces the teacher. Or something like that.

It was September 4, 2002 when Kelly Clarkson won the very first “American Idol.” Simon Cowell was the host of the show.

Now nearly two decades later, Cowell has broken his back trying to ride a motorized bike without looking at the directions. He can’t host “America’s Got Talent.” Clarkson, who has recently become ubiquitous on television, will step in for him.

She says on Twitter, “My friend, Simon Cowell, is doing better now but was in an accident and won’t be able to make Tuesday and Wednesday’s live shows for AGT, but no worries America, someone far wiser, cooler, and hotter is taking his seat! The unbelievably amazing Kelly Clarkson 😜 You’re welcome in advance!”

Simon says: “Some good advice… If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time. I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages.”

Cowell thinks he will just miss this week’s live shows and be back next week like nothing happened. That’s because the pain meds haven’t worn off.

Kelly already hosts her own hit talk show and appears wherever else she can, including “The Voice.” Did she send him the bike as a gift? Nooooo. But let’s start that rumor.

Get well, Simon. Hurry! (In the accompanying photo, Kelly tried to swear herself in as president.)

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Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman is the founder and editor-in-chief of Showbiz411. He wrote the FOX411 column on FoxNews.com from 1999 to 2009 and previously edited Fame magazine and wrote the "Intelligencer" column at New York magazine. His bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, Vogue, Details, and the Miami Herald. He is a voting member of the Critics Choice Awards (Film and Television branches), and his movie reviews are tracked by Rotten Tomatoes. is articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. With D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, he co-produced the 2002 documentary "Only the Strong Survive," which screened at Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

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