The original “Idol” has come home.
Kelly Clarkson’s extraordinary career was born on television, when the classically trained Texas singer, who’d struck out trying to launch her own musical career, took her friends’ advice, and in 2002, tried out for a brand-new show called “American Idol” — becoming the show’s very first winner.
Twenty-five million sold albums and 36 million sold singles later, “I think people still think, ‘How did this chick make it?,’ ” says Clarkson, 35. “I don’t come across a big pop star personality.”
Which is exactly why Clarkson decided to become a coach on NBC’s “The Voice.” Now in its 14th season, premiering Monday at 8 p.m., the show emphasizes talent over image, she says — allowing the rotating professionals on hand (this go-round it’s Alicia Keys, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton) to provide the kind of mentoring recording artists used to get with the A&R (Artists and Repertoire) division of a label.
“We’re coaches, not judges. I’m one hell of a cheerleader. I love saying, ‘This worked for me. This might work for you,’ ” she says. “You’re helping them pick songs that make them shine, which is what A&R is. It’s nice to be part of a process that has nothing to do with aesthetic appeal. We miss a lot of great artists because we stress aesthetic appeal.”
To that end, the show’s format, where coaches hear contestants sing without seeing them — then swivel their chairs around if they like their voices and delivery — is perfect for Clarkson. Still, this coach says she can be “blunt” with contestants.
“It’s not about the voice. It’s about song selection,” she says. “It’s a competition, so you have to keep surprising people. Sometimes you’re a solid singer but it doesn’t always matter. I don’t think people think strategy.”
Clarkson has already selected her team, which she has described as “hilarious. I have everyone from people can sing in Spanish and English to people who sing soul music, singer-songwriters, folk singers and I think I have country.”
“The Voice” premieres about two weeks before ABC’s reboot of “American Idol,” which has a sweetened Disney vibe and judges’ panel of Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. Clarkson hopes people don’t think she’s being disloyal by signing with the competition.
“I feel like people think I’m shunning ‘Idol,’ ” she says. “I’m so excited it’s back because it’s the show that launched me. I don’t wish them anything bad.”
‘We’re coaches, not judges. I’m one hell of a cheerleader.’
She says that, from time to time, she runs into original “Idol” judge Simon Cowell, and everything is cordial. “We both have kids now. We’re in different places in our lives. It’s like knowing someone from summer camp when you were a kid.”
Now that she’s working for NBC, there is one thing on her wish list: to sing in one of the network’s live musicals, as her “Idol” peers Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson have done. And she has one picked out: “White Christmas.” She’d like the Rosemary Clooney role.
“I met George Clooney and he said, ‘You remind me of my aunt.’ I didn’t say anything about him about how talented he was. We just talked about his aunt for a full 10 minutes.”