'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.

[GeneD]

Talk about "turning a day of national mourning into a giant promotional opportunity"! Aside from turning this coming September 11 into a non-stop self-serving Oprahthon, America's news hacks spent more resources covering the infernal "American Idol" PR stunt than they spent covering Usama and the Taliban before September 11. What a disgrace on both counts.

[evolved_rage]

TV, pollution for your soul. Go figure...

[RightOnline]

Before anyone jumps this young lady..........I'd suggest all carefully read this and understand her motivation. She's dead-on right NOT to let herself be used as the climax of some boneheaded PR stunt, capitalizing on 9/11.

I say.......GOOD for her.

[mdittmar]

Never heard her,can she sing?

If yes,I really don't care if she sings.

Better than pulling some lousy singer off the street to sing our National Anthem.

[SouthernFreebird]

Yep, that was my understanding

[PoisedWoman]

This article says nothing. It's a typical PR release, hinting at a controversy, then wiggling out of it,just to get press inches and air time.

Kelly Clarkson is a good singer, who with time and training could go huge....we shall see. She needs an agent who will hold her back until she's a better, more polished performer, or she'll wreck her voice before she gets started. She is a natural talent.

[blam]

"I say.......GOOD for her."

I agree. (However, she probably does have a contract obligation.)

[Who dat?]

She's dead-on right NOT to let herself be used as the climax of some boneheaded PR stunt, capitalizing on 9/11.

I understand the sentiment, but she most likely signed a contract when she entered the contest that stated certain things would be provided by the show to the winner, and certain obligations would be fulfilled by the winner and this could easily be one of them.

It can be a touchy process but they probably can’t legally force her to perform – but they may very well be able to find her to have broken her agreement and may terminate their relationship with her.

It’s just one of those things she has to decide for herself… before she decides to not perform and then sue them because they broke their contract when she may well be the one who actually did it. She needs to consult her lawyer, IMO.

[Mike Darancette]

One senior Fox executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a performance that day could be seen as exploitative.

I imagine that FOX will observe 9/11 with an all day Drew Carry and Married With Children Marathon. So as not to exploit the day.

[Mr. Thorne]

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

It's a little tacky on the PR agency's side, IMHO, to stick her into this so soon after Idol's ending, but that's not HER idea, nor is it HER shame.

Seems to me like she's trying to smooth some ruffled feathers here. Good for her, one way or the other.

[mdittmar]

I'm a little confused on her attitude,her agent aside,I would think she would say something like,"It's an honor to be able to sing our anthem on this occasion.".

She should tell all the detractors to stick it.

[alnick]

I'm a little confused on her attitude

Well, I think her attitude is attributable to the insults that are being slung her way. I heard some celebrities (don't remember which ones; they're not important enough to me) grouse that she had a nerve taking that gig because she hasn't been a celebrity long enough, that that job should go to some celebrity who has been famous for a long time.

That makes not a whit of sense to me, but it had to be hurtful to her to be attacked that way.

[Husker24]

I think her heart is in the right place on this one no matter what she does.

[Inspectorette]

I agree - let's give her the benefit of the doubt. She may have a little more depth than people are giving her credit for.

[Dengar01]

Kelly Rules she is a sweet girl. I don't see how it is promoting the show for her to sing though considering that the show ended on Wednesday.

[jackbill]

I think her heart is in the right place on this one no matter what she does.

Ditto.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

I read it exactly like you read it. Glad to hear she wants out, and that she has a higher maturity level than those who orchestrated this.

[Kryptonite]

How refreshing! A star is born of the media, and instead of jumping into something just for the exposure, she elects to keep them at bay because she doesn't trust them, not even with something as serious as 9/11.

[MJY1288]

I agree, seems to me that she wants to honor those who died on 9/11 rather than exploit them.

Hats off to this young lady

[Mr. Thorne]

Yep. It's like post 12 says, some of the 'older hands' were saying she didn't deserve to sing.

I'm with you. That girl oughtta tell 'em to stick it where the sun don't shine, and just sing her heart out.

She's got the pipes for it, I'm thinking.