Member Since: 7/27/2005
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The latest article. Finally one that isnt so one sided.
Kelly vs. 'Idol': Much Ado about Nothing?
By Rick Porter
Friday, January 20, 2006
10:32 AM PT
Our long -- okay, short -- national nightmare is apparently over: Kelly Clarkson has agreed to let her songs be sung on "American Idol."
Of course, it's not entirely certain that Clarkson, the winner of the first "Idol" title in 2002, was ever directly refusing to let the hugely popular FOX show use her music. But after some pointed comments by "Idol" judge Simon Cowell, Clarkson's people have let it be known that she's cool with the show that helped launch her career.
In fact, a would-be contestant did try to sing the Grammy nominee's single "Since U Been Gone" during "Idol's" season premiere this week -- not too well, it should be noted. Still, "Kelly Clarkson was happy to hear her song" on the show, her spokesperson says in a statement.
"As far as she is concerned, there is no conflict between her and the TV show. She intended all along to license additional material to the show and will do so when asked and within reason."
The controversy, such as it is, began last week during a conference call with "Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe. Asked whether Clarkson would be appearing on the show at all this season, Lythgoe noted he was about to speak to her managers about the song-clearance issue.
"I'm sure she is unaware of that, but we're just having discussions at the moment," Lythgoe said then. "So sometimes we say, The door is open to you, but they don't necessarily want to come back. I'm not sure where you're coming from with that question; it may be that you're doing a management question there."
Tuesday morning, Lythgoe told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour that he had, in fact, spoken to her manager, "who was unaware of the situation," and was waiting for a response.
Cowell jumped on the question later, implying she owed it to the "Idol" audience that voted her the winner to release her songs.
"No matter how talented Kelly Clarkson is, she would not be in the position she's in now without winning this show," Cowell said. "I don't like this, when they walk away from the show and kind of forget. It's not the show itself. It's the people who bothered to vote week after week.
"They're the people who put her where she is today, and I think that by ignoring the show you're ignoring the audience who put you there."
Lythgoe then interjected, "I have to say we don't even know that that is the truth. We don't know that she's even been asked this."
That comment didn't make it into most of the stories about the flap, and we'll probably never know exactly who was or wasn't releasing the rights to Clarkson's songs. But "Idol" viewers now at least know that "Since U Been Gone" has been added to the list of songs that contestants are free to butcher.
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