KellyClarkson.com

More than two decades after her rise to stardom, pop powerhouse Kelly Clarkson is lifting the curtain on what she says was a far less glamorous reality behind winning the first season of American Idol.

During a recent conversation on The Kelly Clarkson Show with actor Daniel Radcliffe and reality TV personality Rob Rausch, Clarkson stunned viewers by revealing she never actually received some of the prizes she believed came with her historic 2002 victory.

The moment came as Clarkson reacted to Rausch’s claim that he still hasn’t received the $220,800 prize tied to his appearance on The Traitors.

“You know what, I relate to this!” Clarkson said. “I relate to this so hardcore. You probably weren’t alive when I was on ‘American Idol,’ but I was literally on the show.”

Clarkson then claimed the grand prize she thought she had won was not what it seemed.

“They were like, ‘Oh, you win a million dollars,’ or whatever,” she said. “No, you didn’t. They lied. It was like a million dollars’ worth of investment in you.”

Radcliffe appeared taken aback by the revelation.

“Wait, what?” he asked.

“Yes!” Clarkson insisted. The Grammy winner also recounted another perk she says never materialized: a promised car.

“They said you get a car,” Clarkson explained. “And I needed it because my car was bashed in, and I couldn’t afford the deductible. And then, no! I did not get a car.”

Adding insult to injury, she said the following season’s runner-up — Clay Aiken — walked away with the very prize she had expected.

“Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car — and [so did] his mom!” Clarkson said, drawing gasps from the studio audience.

Her reaction at the time? Not exactly subtle.

“I was like, ‘What the f–k!’” Clarkson recalled. “He’s like, ‘Yeah, they gave my mom one.’ I was like, ‘I’m gonna actually kick your ass right now.’” Radcliffe jokingly suggested a retroactive fix.

“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,” he said.

Clarkson wasn’t having it.

“No, it was supposed to be the prize then, OK? It was supposed to be the prize then!” she replied.

Turning back to Rausch, she offered a warning that many reality contestants might understand all too well.

“That’s why I’m saying — you might not see it,” Clarkson told him. “But, you know, I hope you got enough TV time.”

Clarkson’s candid recollection comes during a transitional moment in her career. The “Breakaway” singer recently announced she will step away from her NBC daytime program after seven seasons.

Despite the alleged prize controversy, Clarkson has repeatedly expressed gratitude for the platform that launched her career. On the 23rd anniversary of her American Idol victory, she thanked the fans who voted for her.

“Winning ‘American Idol’ changed my life and I will be forever grateful for all of you that have supported me for so many years,” she wrote.

“It is a gift to find your purpose and passion, and to be able to make a living doing it is the cherry on top. Thank you, always.”