The musicians reflected on their ‘Idol’ and touring days in the early 2000s as Aiken sat down on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’

Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ on Dec. 16. Photo: The Kelly Clarkson Show

Kelly Clarkson is looking back on American Idol‘s early days — and accidentally fudging some crucial details.

When friend and singer Clay Aiken, 46, stopped by The Kelly Clarkson Show on Monday, Dec. 16, the reality show alumni — naturally — discussed their time on the hit series, and Clarkson, 42, forgot that Aiken did not actually win his season.

“So we spent a lot of time … we toured,” the season 1 champion began, referring to the singers’ 2004 co-headlining Independent Tour that followed the first two seasons of American Idol.

“I won the season before you, but we toured after you won,” she continued, inspiring a surprised look from Aiken, who was the runner-up to season 2 winner Ruben Studdard.

The Christmas Bells Are Ringing musician’s eyes went wide, darting back and forth after the host’s false declaration. “After I came in second,” he kindly corrected, as a stunned Clarkson replied, “You what?”

Realizing her mistake, the “Since U Been Gone” singer immediately — and hilariously — turned to the camera to rectify it by apologizing to Studdard, 46.

“So sorry, Ruben. I totally remember that,” she said, inspiring laughter from both the audience and Aiken.

‘American Idol’ season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken and winner Ruben Studdard.M. Caulfield/WireImage

“Look, I’m 42, bro. OK, like, I forgot,” the host joked as Aiken reassured her: “It’s been 20 years. We are both getting older.”

Clarkson continued, “Yes, and I kind of feel like for some reason in my brain movie, y’all are on different shows.”

Aiken later joked that Studdard will certainly contact him about Clarkson’s mix-up. “He will be calling me,” the singer joked to the host, “without question.”

Clay Aiken on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ in 2024.Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty

After some reminiscing on their American Idol and touring days —  from heated Scrabble matches to clashing over Aiken’s refrigerator organization — Clarkson brought up the “winning thing” once more.

“See, now I actually did win,” she began, as Aiken interjected: “’Cause you did win. Yes. I remember that as well.”

“But I don’t know if you remember this and you probably do, but no one cared that I was there [on the 2004 tour],” Clarkson said as her guest objected. “No one!” she doubled down. “That whole tour.”

And, after getting confirmation from Jason Halbert, a current member of her house band who was also on the tour, she added, “I’m telling you, it was as if I didn’t exist.”

“You exist now, darling,” Aiken added, inspiring a smattering of supportive applause.

Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken in 2003 on ‘American Idol’.SGranitz/WireImage

Elsewhere in the episode, the pair discussed Aiken’s sweet friendship with Studdard — the season 2 winner and runner-up also united on Broadway in 2018 for Ruben and Clay’s Christmas Show — with Aiken assuring that he is “sure” he and Studdard will “do stuff again.”

“I mean, we’re sort of inseparable,” he said. “I think we’re better together than apart.”

Clarkson, meanwhile, called the pair an “odd couple” but one that “so works.”