Jordin Sparks on Whether She Got 'Idol' Prize After Kelly Clarkson Didn't

Jordin Sparks at The Elizabeth Taylor Night of Compassion held at The Beverly Hills Hotel on Sept. 18, 2025, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Tommaso Boddi/Variety Trending on Billboard American Idol, it’s not too late to send Kelly Clarkson her car — and Jordin Sparks agrees! In a appearance on Today With Jenna and Sheinelle on Tuesday (March 17), Sparks, who won season six of the famed singing competition show, revealed that she fared a bit better than Clarkson when it came to cashing in on prizes. Related Kelly Clarkson Says ‘American Idol’ Never Gave Her the Car She Was Promised for Winning — ‘And I Needed It!’ Kelly Clarkson Flexes ‘Super Steal’ on The Voice Battles, Blocking Legend and Levine Kelly Clarkson Marvels at How Good Rob Rausch Was at Lying on ‘The Traitors’: ‘I Could Never Do This Show’ “I got my car,” Sparks revealed after guest cohost Justin Sylvester asked her whether or not she received her winnings. “Look, I wasn’t a part of season one. But the first season of anything is a little crazy.” The conversation came about after, on the March 10 episode of her eponymous talk show, Clarkson told The Traitors winner Rob Rausch that she never received her promised prize when she won the first season of American Idol. During their interview, Rausch told the host that he has yet to receive his $220,800 cash prize for his win. (The finale aired on Peacock Feb. 26.) “I relate to this so hardcore,” the “Breakaway” singer said to Rausch. Clarkson went on to share that American Idol told her she would get $1 million for winning. “No you didn’t,” she said on her show. “They lied you did not” She explained that rather getting $1 million cash prize like she expected, the show actually gave her “like, a million dollars worth of investment in you.” She claimed American Idol continued to get her hopes up when she was told would also get a car. “And I needed it because my car was bashed in and I couldn’t afford a deductible,” she shared. “I did not get a car!” It’s been more than two decades since Clarkson won American Idol, and in that time, she has built a flourishing music and TV career. The “Since U Been Gone” singer has topped the Billboard Hot 100 three times, had 31 Hot 100 entries in total and has had three albums hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, so it’s safe to say that three-time Grammy and six-time Daytime Emmy winner no longer needs a car from American Idol. But that’s not stopping Sparks from standing up for her fellow American Idol victor. “I hope they give her one now,” Sparks said on Today With Jenna and Sheinelle. “Somebody send her a Ford.” Watch Sparks talk about her American Idol prize on Today below: View this post on Instagram Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox Sign Up Leave a Comment Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name * Email * Website Post Comment Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about? Get in the know on Visit Billboard Pro for music business news