MrsSpringsteen
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people.com
Kelly Clarkson won the first American Idol title in 2002, but she isn't going over well with the producers – and at least one of the judges – right now.
The FOX show, which kicked off its fifth season on Tuesday, is having trouble reaching a financial agreement with Clarkson to allow contestants to sing her songs, according to its producers.
"We get requests (for Kelly's songs) all the time and we turn things down," a rep for Clarkson's label tells PEOPLE. "It’s not just an Idol thing."
But tart-tongued judge Simon Cowell disagrees. "It sounds to me that someone is being difficult and I don't like that."
Clarkson is up for two Grammy awards next month. Still, "No matter how talented Kelly Clarkson is, she would not be in the position she's in now without winning this show," says Cowell. "It's a shame."
Adds Cowell, "If she refuses to give songs to be used on the show, it's like saying to every person who voted for you, 'you know what? Thank you. I'm not interested in you anymore.'"
Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe says the show still hopes to come to terms with Clarkson's reps. And Clarkson's manager Jeff Rabhan says she would never snub the show that launched her career.
"We are negotiating for a fair-market value," says Rabhan. "Nobody is more proud of where she comes from than Kelly Clarkson."
Kelly Clarkson won the first American Idol title in 2002, but she isn't going over well with the producers – and at least one of the judges – right now.
The FOX show, which kicked off its fifth season on Tuesday, is having trouble reaching a financial agreement with Clarkson to allow contestants to sing her songs, according to its producers.
"We get requests (for Kelly's songs) all the time and we turn things down," a rep for Clarkson's label tells PEOPLE. "It’s not just an Idol thing."
But tart-tongued judge Simon Cowell disagrees. "It sounds to me that someone is being difficult and I don't like that."
Clarkson is up for two Grammy awards next month. Still, "No matter how talented Kelly Clarkson is, she would not be in the position she's in now without winning this show," says Cowell. "It's a shame."
Adds Cowell, "If she refuses to give songs to be used on the show, it's like saying to every person who voted for you, 'you know what? Thank you. I'm not interested in you anymore.'"
Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe says the show still hopes to come to terms with Clarkson's reps. And Clarkson's manager Jeff Rabhan says she would never snub the show that launched her career.
"We are negotiating for a fair-market value," says Rabhan. "Nobody is more proud of where she comes from than Kelly Clarkson."