Rich Fury/Getty ImagesHe’s not just going to Hollywood — he’s there permanently. On Wednesday, Simon Cowell became the latest celebrity to be honored with his own star on the Walk of Fame. On hand to help him celebrate — and to pay tribute to him — was the woman he helped launch to superstardom: Kelly Clarkson, the original American Idol.
Saying she was “very honored” to be asked to speak at the ceremony, Kelly noted that it was “right here” — in Hollywood — “16 years ago, when this man helped change my life…so ‘thank you’ is what I really wanted to say to Simon Cowell today.”
Mentioning another attendee, former judge Randy Jackson, Kelly also got nostalgic over the first season of American Idol, describing it as “beautiful, organic…really fresh and innocent…a really beautiful moment.” She also praised what she believes is Simon’s true talent: “Finding authentic people that have a raw talent and are really themselves and that’s all that they really know how to be.”
As for Simon’s legendary “meanness,” Kelly says she truly appreciated it.
“The best friend you could ever have is someone being honest with you, even if they don’t agree,” she told the crowd, adding, laughing, “Now, granted, I was one of the ones you were never mean to! I’m still waiting!”
According to Variety, some of the other stars whose careers Simon helped launch were also on hand, including Adam Lambert, Katharine McPhee, One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, Leona Lewis, Fifth Harmony’s Ally Brooke, Grace Vanderwaal and Cowell’s fellow judges from America’s Got Talent.
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