Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia Barrino Share American Idol Memories on The Kelly Clarkson Show “I did that!”
Fantasia Barrino Taylor and Kelly Clarkson have a big thing in common. They both won American Idol. Kelly prevailed the inaugural season 2002, and Fantasia came out on top two years later in 2004. So when Fantasia dropped by The Kelly Clarkson Show to promote her new movie, The Color Purple, the two compared notes.
Kelly observed that back when she won Idol she couldn’t imagine winning Emmys. She wonders if Fantasia imagined she’d be nominated for acting awards, like the Golden Globes. She couldn’t. In fact, when she called her husband the morning of the nominations, she hung up because “everybody was screaming.” She had no idea she had been nominated. “I thought something was wrong!” When she finally figured out what was going on, she cried.
Fantasia also discussed almost turning down the movie role. She played Celie twice on Broadway, and the experiences were so fraught, she vowed that she’s never go back. “I felt like I was carrying my cross, and her cross,” Fantasia explained. Eventually, the director explained his vision, where Celie had an “imagination” and that convinced the actress to take on the role one more time.
On running the American Idol gauntlet: “Dude, I feel like if I got through that, I can do anything!”
Then, the two commiserated over how they hate watching their old clips from American Idol. Fantasia admitted that she does watch herself, but only with a glass of wine in hand. “A good glass of wine always sends me back,” she said, “I kid you not. I will literally go back!” This despite hating watching herself.
“I hate watching myself with a passion!” Kelly agreed. But for Fantasia, all it takes is “a good glass of cab.” But for Kelly, “There’s not enough wine in the world!” However, she has watched her old clips, and came to the conclusion, “Dude, I feel like if I got through that, I can do anything!”
A HIGH FIVE between winners
At that, the two American Idol winners, who had run the gauntlet all the way to the end, agreed with a high five! One wasn’t enough. “Give me another one!” said Fantasia. “Anything! Anything,” said Kelly. “I was like ‘I did that!’ And it was hard. I was tired!”
“YES!” Fantasia commented. “I was over it A LOT,” said Kelly. “I KNOW,” agreed Fantasia.
Watch the interview below
