'American Idol' Star Wants to Withdraw From Sept. 11 Event

The New York Times ^ | 9/6/02 | Alex Kuczynski

[GeneD]

Pop queen for one day, and already Kelly Clarkson is stepping into controversy.

Ms. Clarkson, 20, the former comedy-club waitress who triumphed on "American Idol" Wednesday night, has snagged a record contract, a deal with Creative Artists Agency, concert bookings and a single, which is due to arrive on Sept. 17. But today, in an interview with The New York Times, she said she wanted to withdraw from one obligation her new management company, 19 Management, has lined up for her: a performance of the national anthem at a Sept. 11 commemoration at Lincoln Memorial in Washington.

A Washington-based charity, Champions of Hope, had made a deal with 19 Entertainment, one of the producers of the "American Idol" show, for whoever won the competition to sing the national anthem at the organization's "United Day of Service" ceremony on Sept. 11. at the National Mall.

The news spurred criticism that the producers of "American Idol," which attracted 23 million viewers for the show's finale, were turning a day of national mourning into a giant promotional opportunity. Today, Ms. Clarkson said, "I think maybe it's a bad idea."

"If anybody thinks I'm trying to market anything, well, that's awful," she added. "I am not going to do it."

Executives at Fox Television last week began to distance themselves from the deal made by the producers of "Idol." One senior Fox executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a performance that day could be seen as exploitative. "I hope she reconsiders that one," the executive said.

Melissa Helmbrecht, the founder of Champions of Hope, a group that organizes young people to volunteer for community service, said that Ms. Clarkson was still on board.

"She's still scheduled to sing," Ms. Helmbrecht said this afternoon.

Ms. Helmbrecht said that news stations have inquired about covering the event but that it is not scheduled to be broadcast on any specific network. It is open to the public, she said, and no tickets are to be sold.

Tom Ennis, who runs 19 Management, a division of 19 Entertainment Ltd., based in London, said Friday that he would overrule Ms. Clarkson's decision. So she would indeed sing the anthem on Sept. 11?

"Yes," he said.

[Fixit]

Given that the contract that she had to sign reads like an indentured servant's agreement, I'm not sure she can say no...

[conservative cat]

I watched The Pulse last night, and yes, she can sing.

I'm not extremely proud to admit this, but my husband and I were sucked into watching American Idol. It was his idea, initially, but I became addicted, too! Kelly has one heck of a voice on her, and we knew she would win from the first time we heard her. She has one heck of a range, far better than the majority of alleged singers out there. She seems like a very sweet, very genuine person.

[HennepinPrisoner]

Hey, people...don't beat up on Kelly!! She did not set this up!!

I think she is showing some class by refusing to do the national anthem.

Unfortunately, her managers are based in London and they don't know what this day means to Americans...they just see it as an opportunity to get Kelly some more national television exposure six days before her new single is released.

[tet68]

I don't know her, I don't care where her career is going.
If she will stand there and belt out the anthem with pride and tears in her eyes, I'm behind her 100%.
If not forget it.

[AdA$tra]

She seems like a very sweet, very genuine person.

Same here for me and my wife. I watched the last two or three of them with her.

The girl has a world class set of pipes. This just confirms that she is exactly how she seems.

[AdA$tra]

Meant to post it like this:

She seems like a very sweet, very genuine person.

Same here for me and my wife. I watched the last two or three of them with her.

The girl has a world class set of pipes. This just confirms that she is exactly how she seems.

[VaBthang4]

Oh yes....She most definitely can sing.

[agrace]

They (those in Washington heading up these official commemorations) should do what they did for the ceremonies after 9/11 and use their own. In the DC ceremonies, use military personnel. The NYPD and FDNY singers who were selected performed our national anthem beautifully every time, and it's completely appropriate to do so. Deserved even.

[My Favorite Headache]

I agree and am with your opinion

[doglot]

My take also. The lady is showing some respect, but then she is from the south.

[William McKinley]

Yeah, she can sing. They found one with talent.

[HennepinPrisoner]

Yeah, she can sing. They found one with talent.

Exactly...unlike 99.9% of pop singers today,she can SING without the help of studio tweeking.

[jackbill]

They (those in Washington heading up these official commemorations) should do what they did for the ceremonies after 9/11 and use their own. In the DC ceremonies, use military personnel. The NYPD and FDNY singers who were selected performed our national anthem beautifully every time, and it's completely appropriate to do so. Deserved even.

This is not an "official commeration". It is a "United Day of Service" ceremony put on by the Champions of Hope, a non-profit youth organization. Sounds appropriate for her to be there. After all she is a youth and seems to be a pretty good example of the generation.

And she's not getting paid for it, if that worries you.

[agrace]

The situation didn't worry me a bit. :) But I didn't know who was behind the service, thanks. I wasn't commenting on her perspective performance one way or the other but she does seem like a good candidate, from what I've read (didn't watch American Idol).

[Bernard]

The most effective way to remember what happened last September 11 is to show the TV coverage from that day one year ago. All too soon, the entire thing will be lost in revisionism and hype. Show what actually happened - every year until the war on terrorism is complete.

[agrace]

perspective should be prospective, arg.

[agrace]

My husband said the same thing last night - networks should replay their coverage in real time, for that one day. I think you both have an excellent idea.

[PianoMan]

Thanks for the link to the contract. Nasty. They say that when lawyers outside the entertainment industry look at those contracts they say "how can ANYONE sign something like this?"

Kelly is a young kid from Texas with no experience with the sharks in either journalism or arts management and is finding her way. I try to keep that in mind when I see her in the news. This is not her fault but that of the scumbags who manage her.

And speaking as a professional pianist who accompanies singers a fair amount, the girl can sing.

[Wondervixen]

I never paid one minute of attention to the stupid "Making The Band" OR "American Idol"...Promotors of each set what it was that they were looking for and then held a contest to find the person that fit it so they could railroad them right past all the rest, who work hard to make it, straight to prefabricated stardom.

It was all a joke run by people without a clue. Why not recycle Darva Conger or one of the Survivor cast members and make a singing star out of them? If they can't carry a tune in a bucket, voice synthesize them to passability...They do it for Britney Spears.

The only thing I know of Kelly Clarkson is what I saw in the morning show interviews the day after she won. What I saw was a girl who might well be a talented singer, but in her personal life she appears to be way out of her league. She looked to be lacking in personal self confidence in those interviews...A small town girl signing contracts with worldly wolves and not at all ready for it. It'll be interesting if she lasts very long while she tries to stand on her principles when those contracts say she'll do otherwise.