This Day in History:, Kelly Clarkson Wins br First 'American Idol'.br September 4, 2002.br Millions of home-viewers cast their br vote by phone for the 20-year-old Texan br in the first season of the hit singing contest.br A former cocktail waitress, Clarkson br won a record contract as the first American Idol.br She would move on to an extraordinarily br successful music career, selling millions of albums.br Based on Britain's 'Pop Idol,' 'American Idol' was picked br up by Fox after being rejected by several other networks.br The show became one of the most popular in the br U.S., generating several other popular talent contests.