She won the inaugural season of American Idol, she’s a Grammy® winner, and she’s been honored at the American Music Awards. And today, Radio Disney announced that global superstar Kelly Clarkson will add a new accolade to her impressive career: Clarkson will receive the “Icon” Award at this year’s Radio Disney Music Awards (RDMA) and will also perform a medley of her hit songs during the special event.
The 2018 RDMA takes place Friday, June 22, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California, with a special broadcast of the event airing on Saturday, June 23 (8–10 p.m. EDT/PDT) on Disney Channel, as well as Disney-branded platforms that include Radio Disney, the Radio Disney app, the DisneyNOW app, and Disney.com/RDMA.
The “Icon” Award recognizes an artist whose career transcends popular culture and whose music is beloved by generations of Radio Disney fans. When Clarkson made her debut on American Idol in 2002, she instantly captured fans’ hearts. Her first single, “A Moment Like This,” was an instant hit and she has continued to dominate the music charts with blockbuster songs “Since U Been Gone,” “Catch My Breath,” and “Breakaway” (which Disney fans will, of course, remember from the Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement soundtrack). The multiplatinum artist has also dominated the Radio Disney charts, with her current singles, “Heat” and “Love So Soft” having spent a combined 19 weeks on the Radio Disney Top 30 chart.
This year’s RDMA will also include a performance by this year’s American Idol winner, Maddie Poppe, as well as a stellar lineup of artists that includes Carrie Underwood with Ludacris, Meghan Trainor, Charlie Puth, Marshmello, and Echosmith. Among the Disney Channel and Freeform stars who will be on hand to present the coveted “ARDY” trophies are stars from Disney Channel’s Andi Mack; Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph of Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger, which airs on Freeform; Hollywood Records recording artist Sabrina Carpenter; Radio Disney’s “NBT,” JAGMAC; and Hollywood Records group In Real Life, winners of ABC’s Boy Band.
Stay tuned to D23 for more RDMA news and surprises as the event draws near! Don’t forget that D23 Members get 10% off RDMA tickets!