Jordin Sparks Reveals What She Really Won From American Idol

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Jordin Sparks didn’t need an S.O.S. after winning American Idol.

Following Kelly Clarkson’s recent comments about not receiving all the promised prizes after winning the first season of the singing competition—like a car and a million dollars—the winner of season six shared details about what she did receive.

Jordin announced on the March 16th episode of Jenna & Sheinelle that she finally got a car. She also pointed out that she wasn’t involved in the first season of the show, adding that the initial season of anything is usually a bit chaotic.

The 36-year-old, who won American Idol when she was just 17, jokingly said, “Someone should really send her a Ford!”

The winning singers each received a new Ford Mustang, and throughout the competition, all the contestants appeared in commercials for the car every week.

Kelly, who won the singing competition five years before Jordin, talked about what she received as a prize after The Traitors winner Rob Rausch mentioned he hadn’t yet received his $220,800 winnings.

During a recent episode of her show, Kelly Clarkson recalled being told she’d won a million dollars on a game show. She clarified that this wasn’t actually winnings, but rather a million-dollar investment in her as an artist.

She explained that she was promised a car because her own vehicle had been damaged and she couldn’t cover the repair costs. However, she didn’t receive one. She was particularly upset because Clay Aiken, who came in second place on the show, did get a car.

Not only did the runner-up end up with some new wheels, but so did his mom.

Let me tell you, I was completely shocked when I heard that! A friend of mine, Clay, mentioned they’d given his mother something similar in the second season, and honestly, my first instinct was to give him a piece of my mind. I was seriously ready to call him out right then and there!

TopMob News had reached out to American Idol for comment at the time but did not hear back.

Kelly, a mom to 11-year-old River and 9-year-old Remington with her late ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, was happy to win the show, but things didn’t turn out as she’d hoped afterward.

Kelly Clarkson remembered that after winning Idol, people assumed she was instantly wealthy. “They said ‘million dollar contract,’ but that wasn’t true,” she explained on Kylie Kelce’s Not Gonna Lie podcast in March 2025. “I didn’t get a big payout, or even a car – I didn’t get any of the things people thought I would.”

She explained they started by playing at outdoor festivals in rough conditions, literally setting up their equipment in fields. She emphasized that even now, at 42, life is still a constant effort and requires a lot of hard work.

But she took everything she learned from American Idol and applied it as a coach on The Voice. 

Kelly, a coach on the show since 2018 and returning for this season, said she’s impressed. She explained that the artists face a lot of immediate pressure, more than many successful recording artists could deal with, and that it’s a unique challenge.

She described her own career and Jennifer Hudson’s – a former finalist on American Idol and judge on The Voice – as having walked the same path as those now trying to succeed. She explained, ‘We’ve been in your shoes.’

For a deep dive into more behind-the-scenes details about American Idol, keep reading.

According to former contestants, you only start getting paid on American Idol once you reach the live shows. Margie Mays, who competed in seasons 17 and 18, explained in a 2020 TikTok that contestants aren’t paid just for being on the show—that’s a sacrifice you make to try and win. However, contestants do get paid for things like appearing in commercials or returning for finale performances. When contestants travel for the show, like to Hawaii, all expenses are covered, and they receive a daily allowance for food.

If you win American Idol, there’s a $250,000 prize, but it’s not a full payout. Maddie Poppe, the winner of season 16, told Business Insider in 2022 that half the prize money is given upfront before completing a record, and the other half after. She described it as an advance on the record deal, which she likely has to earn back.

That’s not quite how it works. Actually, season seven winner David Cook revealed his initial audition wasn’t his first attempt – it was his fifth round! While there are several ways to audition – including open calls, virtual auditions, and through social media – American Idol requires singers who are asked to return for further auditions to pay for their own travel. According to David, once contestants reach Hollywood Week, the show covers their expenses like flights and accommodation, but for the earlier city auditions, they’re responsible for their own costs.

So you’ve gotten a golden ticket to Hollywood on shows like American Idol or similar – what happens next? Once the judges – currently Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan – send you forward, contestants head to California for Hollywood Week. But who pays for the trip?

According to a former contestant sharing information on TikTok in 2020, the show does cover travel costs. They’ll fly you to Hollywood, book your flights, and provide transportation from the airport to the hotel. The hotel and all meals are also covered. However, they don’t give contestants any spending money – they simply pay for the necessary expenses.

As a long-time fan, I’ve always been fascinated by the fashion on the show! It’s interesting to learn how much the contestants are involved in choosing their outfits. In the beginning, it’s all them – they’re completely responsible for what they wear. But once they reach the live rounds, usually Top 14 and beyond, the show steps in with a full styling team. They really want to transform these everyday people into stars, and that means professional hair, makeup, and, of course, incredible outfits. However, it’s not unlimited! I remember reading that back in 2013, contestants only had a $400 budget per episode for their wardrobe. The costume designer explained they’re building a personal brand, so if they wanted something that cost more, they had to pay for it themselves! It’s a lot to think about while they’re also trying to win the competition!

 

As a lifestyle expert who’s followed shows like American Idol for years, I can tell you what happens behind the scenes when contestants are eliminated. It’s surprisingly quick! Apparently, during Hollywood Week, they’re often booked on a flight home almost immediately after the results are revealed – like, straight from the theater to a hotel and then the airport.

Things change a bit later in the competition, though. For the Hawaii rounds, everyone – whether they make the Top 20 or not – flies back to Los Angeles together. And if you’re cut between the Top 20 and Top 10, you’ll probably leave pretty quickly. But here’s the interesting part: if you make it into the Top 10 and are then eliminated, they usually let you stay in the apartments until the finale! They bring eliminated Top 10 contestants back to perform during the final show, so it makes sense to keep them around.

Because contestants on American Idol must be at least 15 years old, many are still students while competing. Danielle Finn, who reached the Top 24 at age 17, recalled having school on the set during season 20. She explained to fellow contestant Clark Beckham that filming was limited to 10 hours a day, and if they went over, or had free time, they were required to attend school. Victoria Johnson, 16 when she made it to the Showstopper round on season 22, had a similar experience. Even though she was on spring break during Hollywood Week, she still had to complete her required school hours, which she filled with puzzles since she had finished her assignments. She’s now taking all her classes online due to the demands of filming Idol.

Throughout the history of American Idol, the contestants’ living arrangements have varied greatly, from apartments and hotels to luxurious mansions. One house, used during season eight, was particularly extravagant, boasting amenities like a basketball court, bowling alley, home theater, and both indoor and outdoor pools. Lil Rounds, a contestant from season eight, reminisced on Instagram in February 2024, calling the mansion “soo awesome,” but also noting they barely got any sleep. More recently, contestants seem to be housed in hotels. For example, Abi Carter, the winner of season 22, and Julia Gagnon, a top seven finalist, shared a room together.

As a longtime fan, I’ve always been amazed by how much these contestants juggle! Ruben Studdard, the winner of season two, really opened my eyes to just how intense it was. He described a whirlwind schedule where they’d get the songs on Thursday, choose them Friday, film commercials Friday-Saturday, finalize selections on Sunday, record the track Sunday night into Monday, and then do a full dress rehearsal Tuesday morning! Apparently, those ‘vote for…’ packages you see are filmed before the live show! Then, Wednesday was elimination night, and the whole thing started over. He said it actually got harder as the group got smaller because the workload stayed the same. Jena Irene, from season thirteen, echoed this sentiment. She explained that as contestants were eliminated, those remaining had to fill more and more time in each episode. She even mentioned they started filming Ford commercials every Sunday once they reached the top eight! It’s incredible how they managed to perform under so much pressure.

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2026-03-17 16:48