Jordin Sparks has confirmed she received her prize winnings from American Idol, after Kelly Clarkson claimed last week that she never got her promised car and $1 million cash prize. Sparks, who won the sixth season of the show in 2007, spoke about her experience on Monday's episode of Today With Jenna and Sheinelle.
Guest host Justin Sylvester asked Sparks if she had encountered the same issue as Clarkson, the show's inaugural winner. 'When Kelly Clarkson said she won American Idol, they didn't run her that bag. And she didn't get her million dollars or brand new car. She said she didn't get her prize money,' Sylvester said. 'I'm wondering, Jordin Sparks, did you secure the bag?'
The 'Battlefield' singer replied that she did receive a car — a Ford Mustang convertible. 'Look, I wasn't a part of season one. But the first season of anything is a little crazy,' she said. 'I hope they give her one now. Send her a Ford.'
Clarkson's comments came during an episode of her daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, last week. She was interviewing The Traitors star Rob Rausch, who said he had yet to receive his $220,800 cash prize after winning season four last month. Clarkson exclaimed, 'I relate to this so hard core, because whenever I won, you probably weren't alive when I was on American Idol, but I literally was on the show, and they were like, 'Oh, you win $1 million or whatever.' No, you didn't. They lied.'
Clarkson explained that the winnings were not actually $1 million, but rather '$1 million worth of investment in you.' She also said she was told she would get a car, which she needed at the time because 'my car was bashed in, and I couldn't afford the deductible.' However, she added, 'And no! I did not get a car.' Clarkson later learned that American Idol's season two runner-up, Clay Aiken, and his mother had both been given cars. ABC did not respond to a request for comment.
