American Idol (season 1)

Broadcast from	June 11 – September 4, 2002
Judges	Paula Abdul Simon Cowell Randy Jackson
Host(s)	Ryan Seacrest Brian Dunkleman
Broadcaster	Fox
Finals venue	Kodak Theatre
Kelly Clarkson
Clarkson at the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C.
Origin	Burleson, Texas, U.S.
Song	"A Moment Like This"
Genre(s)	Pop, pop rock
Justin Guarini
2002 ▶

The first season of American Idol premiered on June 11, 2002 (under the full title American Idol: The Search for a Superstar) and continued until September 4, 2002. It was won by Kelly Clarkson. This season was co-hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman, the latter of whom left the show after the season ended.

The winner, Kelly Clarkson, signed with RCA Records, the label in partnership with American Idol's 19 Recordings. Immediately post-finale, Clarkson released two singles, including the coronation song, "A Moment Like This". "A Moment Like This" went on to break a thirty-eight-year-old record held by The Beatles for a song's biggest leap to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It jumped up from number fifty-two to number one in just one week. She held that record for five years but she reclaimed that record back in 2009 with her hit single "My Life Would Suck Without You" when it jumped up from number ninety-seven to number one. Clarkson has enjoyed a successful recording career since winning, with multiple-platinum albums, a number of Top 10 hit singles and three Grammy Awards. Runner-up Justin Guarini also signed with RCA Records, eventually debuting an album in 2003 after the conclusion of season 2. RCA dropped him shortly after its debut. In addition to Clarkson and Guarini, also signed were Nikki McKibbin, Tamyra Gray, R. J. Helton, and Christina Christian.

After the finale, a special show in Las Vegas was also shown on September 23, 2002 where all 30 of the contestants who made the judges' initial cut performed during in a two-hour concert.

The show inspired a 2003 musical film, From Justin to Kelly, featuring Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini.

Auditions were held in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, and Seattle in the spring of 2002, and around 10,000 attended the auditions.