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Article: Kelly Clarkson crowned `American Idol'.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- September 4, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ You may not know the name of Miss America, but you better know the name of Kelly Clarkson or you won't have a speaking role in water cooler conversation Thursday.
Crowned American Idol before an opinionated audience of millions Wednesday night, the dimpled Texan with a thousand-watt smile rode to stardom aboard a program that started as an over-hyped talent show and wound up being the antidote to the nation's summer of discontent.
Embraced by competitor Justin Guarini, whom she bested _ and befriended _ in a 13-week series of eliminations, Clarkson, 20, laid claim to a lucrative recording contract and delivered its first song Wednesday ...