quot;American Idolquot; is having a bit of a Goldilocks moment. When the nation#39;s favorite TV addiction debuted 10 years ago, critics complained the judges were too mean to the hordes of would-be singers seeking celebrity.

Should quot;American Idolquot; be running scared? Arriving in June 2002, the competition (spun off from the UK hit quot;Pop Idolquot;) hardly took TV by storm. Fewer than 10 million viewers tuned in for the premiere. But by the time Kelly Clarkson was crowned that September, viewership had surged to 23 million, and quot;Idolquot; hasn#39;t looked back.

quot;American Idolquot; Kelly Clarkson is set to perform at America#39;s most popular sporting event: the Super Bowl.

quot;American Idolquot; Kelly Clarkson is set to perform at America#39;s most popular sporting event: the Super Bowl. Clarkson has been chosen to sing the national anthem before the NFL championship game at Indianapolis on Feb. 5, a person familiar with Super Bowl entertainment plans told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Kelly Clarkson is playing for the other team. The first -- and best-selling -- winner of American Idol will appear this season as a mentor on rival singing competition The Voice.