Ryan Seacrest has been the host of “American Idol” since its debut in 2002. During the show’s first season, he co-hosted alongside Brian Dunkleman, but after Dunkleman departed, Secrest stepped in as the sole host.
Seacrest has remained in that role ever since, marking an impressive run of more than 20 seasons with the beloved reality TV show. So, when asked to reflect on his favorite on-air moment after more than two decades, one might expect it to be a difficult choice.
However, for Seacrest, the answer comes surprisngly easily, as he shares the one moment that truly defined his time on the show.
Ryan Seacrest Shares His Favorite On-Air Moment on ‘American Idol’
Ryan Seacrest is currently hosting the 24th season of “American Idol,” but when he looks back on the show’s unforgettable moments, one stands above the rest.
Speaking to Pause Rewind, Seacrest shared that the night Kelly Clarkson won the inaugural season of the show will forever be his favorite.
“When I look back, the history-making of the first-ever results show where I got to say, ‘The winner is Kelly Clarkson.’ That will never, ever, ever get old,” he said.
It’s one of the most pivotal moments not just for “American Idol,” but for reality TV as a whole. The first results marked a turning point, as it was among the earliest major televised moments where the audience directly determined the outcome through voting. The response from viewers was massive, with 15.5 million viewers casting their votes in the finale, with 58 percent going to Clarkson, per MTV.
The first season also proved something crucial: that it was more than just a reality TV show; it actually created music stars, launching careers like Clarkson’s, who is undoubtedly one of the show’s major success stories.
Seacrest Reflects on His Lasting Legacy on ‘American Idol’
GettyHaving hosted “American Idol” for 24 seasons, Seacrest opened up about his enduring legacy. Speaking with People, he said, “That’s a big question. I haven’t thought about legacy yet.”
He continued, “In terms of what I hope people expect from me, or get when I’m on any show, is that they feel comfortable watching it. They enjoy it. It doesn’t seem like it’s too difficult. They can have anybody of any age watch the show. People can get together as a family watch the show. And for me to make them feel comfortable, and as if we’ve known each other for a long time, even if we’ve never met. And if you were a host, that’s the idea.”
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight in 2023, Seacrest shared that his energy to do the show year after year comes from meeting contestants and seeing them “grow” throughout their journeys.
“We see them with their normal jobs, and they just come in for this audition,” he said, adding, “They don’t know where it’s gonna go. They end up looking like glamour superstars onstage, and like they’ve done it for 20 years.”
Of course, announcing the winner tops everything. Seacrest told the outlet that he’ll “never” tire of announcing the show’s most iconic line, “The next ‘American Idol’ is…”
“I mean, that’s the best part for me… I get excited,” he said.
Seacrest will get a chance to say it once again very soon, as the “American Idol” season 24 finale is set to air on Monday, May 11.
