Kelly Clarkson "Miss Independent"

Fox stunned all the television networks when its reality singing contest American Idol: The Search for a Superstar caught fire during the summer of 2002. Rarely did summer television shows ever become a sensation, but Idol connected. The show made Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and Ryan Seacrest household names. Season 1 of Idol culminated with Kelly Clarkson defeating Justin Guarini on September 2, 2002. While Idol went on to change the way television networks programmed their schedules, it also changed the music business. Artists regularly appeared on the show hoping to promote their new single and theme nights helped introduce older music to a new audience. No format seemed to benefit from Idol more than Adult Contemporary who embraced the show's winners (and losers). Names like Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, and Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson peppered the AC Chart. Clarkson alone charted more than a dozen AC singles including 2002's "Miss Independent" -- a song initially written for Christina Aguilera.

Kelly Clarkson "A Moment Like This"

Do you remember the name Brian Dunkleman? Dunkleman infamously co-hosted season one of American Idol alongside Ryan Seacrest only to disappear after Kelly Clarkson won the first season. His name became a joke as the show's popularity took off after he left leaving Seacrest to collect all the profits. Word is that Dunkleman resigned from the show just before the show was about to fire him.

Shinedown - "Second Chance"

When Casey Kasem stepped down from his countdown show in 2009, his final #1 songs were Taylor Swift's "Love Story" (on the Adult Contemporary version of his countdown) and "Second Chance" from Shinedown (on the Hot Adult Contemporary version of his countdown).  Pop music much different then as compared to Casey's first #1 song: "Mama Told Me Not to Come" by Three Dog Night.  Casey ended his final show with his familiar message: "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."