Twenty-one years ago, Kelly Clarkson was not a household name, but rather a contestant on the first season of American Idol. Her charisma on screen was outshined only by her voice on stage, and, well, we all know how that turned out. But in order to become the reality competition’s first winner, the singer had to first get past Simon Cowell, the cranky music executive with blunt (and sometimes harsh) feedback. In the years since, their paths have continued to cross, with each having only glowing things to say about one another. So what’s the deal? Are Cowell and Clarkson friends in real life?
It turns out they are, indeed, close friends, even if they did get off to a somewhat rocky start. Let's look at some of the things Kelly Clarkson and Simon Cowell have said about each other over the years.
