Former “American Idol” champion Taylor Hicks has sparked buzz online after playfully shooting his shot at fellow winner Kelly Clarkson in a flirty message that caught fans’ attention.
The moment came after Clarkson recently revealed that she never received the car she was promised when she won the very first season of the popular singing competition.
Reacting to the revelation, Hicks who won Season 5 of “American Idol” in 2006 praised Clarkson’s talent and jokingly offered to help fix the situation. In a light-hearted remark, he said he would be “more than happy to help her find a new Mustang,” turning the conversation into a playful flirtation.
The two singers have known each other for years through the American Idol franchise and have maintained a friendly connection. Hicks even appeared on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” in 2023, where he performed one of his songs.
Clarkson, one of the most successful winners to come out of the show, has experienced a difficult few years personally. She finalized her divorce from talent manager Brandon Blackstock in 2022, and he later died in August 2025 after battling melanoma.
Hicks, who is currently single, appears to have taken the opportunity to publicly express admiration for the Grammy-winning singer. While the comment was clearly playful, it has already sparked reactions among fans who enjoyed seeing the friendly banter between two of the show’s most recognizable champions.
The interaction has since fueled speculation and excitement among followers of the long-running reality show, with many amused by the idea of one American Idol winner openly flirting with another.
