More ImagesAmerican Idol season 1
Season of television series
The first season of American Idol premiered on June 11, 2002, over four months after Pop Idol's first series ended, with Will Young winning the series, and continued until September 4, 2002. The first season was co-hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman, the latter of whom left the show after the season ended. Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson served as judges. Kelly Clarkson won the competition, defeating Justin Guarini, who finished in second place. Kelly Clarkson signed with RCA Records, the label in partnership with American Idol's 19 Recordings. Immediately after the finale, Clarkson released two singles, including her coronation song, "A Moment Like This," which 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. Wikipedia