As the first American Idol winner and a chart-topping, Grammy-winning superstar to boot, Kelly Clarkson is an icon to millions of music fans. But over the weekend, as she received the ICON Award at the Radio Disney Music Awards, she said she didn’t feel like she deserved it.
“I mean, honestly when they told me about the ICON Award, I was like…I feel like that’s such a big word!” Kelly said on the red carpet. “Y’know, my icons being, like, Aretha [Franklin], Cher, Reba [McEntire], Annie Lennox, so I don’t really fit in that category.”
Kelly was presented the award by the newest American Idol winner, Maddie Poppe, and Brynn Cartelli, the Team Kelly member who’s the newest winner of The Voice. Backstage, Kelly reiterated, “It feels a little like I’m unworthy of it, but I vow to earn it!”
She laughed, “I don’t know…I have all my icons in my head right now, [and] I’m nowhere near as cool, so maybe one day, I’ll be there.”
During the show, Kelly performed a medley of her hits, including “Miss Independent,” “Since U Been Gone,” “Stronger” and more. Her fellow American Idol alum Carrie Underwood also received a special honor — the “Hero” award — from former American Idol judge Randy Jackson. Carrie performed her song “Champion” live for the first time with Ludacris.
Janet Jackson, meanwhile, received the first-ever Radio Disney Music Impact award, from Raven-Symoné and Normani Kordei.
Other big winners included BTS, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello and Bebe Rexha. Performers on the show included Meghan Trainor, Charlie Puth, Echosmith and Maddie Poppe.
Here’s the full list of RDMA 2018 winners:
You Know You Love Them – Best Duo/Group
BTS
The One – Best Artist
Shawn Mendes
The Bestest – Song of the Year
“Havana” – Camila Cabello
XOXO – Best Crush Song
“Perfect” – Ed Sheeran
#SQUADGOALS – Fiercest Fans
BTS Army – BTS
The Buzz – Breakout Artist of the Year
Camila Cabello
The Freshest – Best New Artist
Bebe Rexha
So Happy – Best Song that Makes You Smile
“DNA” – BTS
Doubletap – Favorite Social Music Artist
Max & Harvey
Stuck in Our Heads – Best Song To Lip Sync To
“New Rules” – Dua Lipa
When The Beat Drops! – Best Dance Track
“Mic Drop (Steve Aoki Remix)” – BTS
Play It Again! – Radio Disney Country Favorite Song
“Meant To Be” – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
The Bestest! – Radio Disney Country Favorite Artist
Kelsea Ballerini
The Freshest! – Radio Disney Country Best New Artist
Carly Pearce
Mashup! – Best Collaboration
“It Ain’t Me” – Kygo & Selena Gomez
Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.