Kellie Pickler is now the co-host of a morning TV show called Pickler & Ben. However, do you remember her first “co-hosting” gig as part of “Puck N Pickler” on American Idol.

Kellie has achieved so much in her singing career, her CMT reality show I Love Kellie Pickler and now she gets to co-host the new morning TV show that features segments on things like entertaining, home design, DIY  and COOKING.

I emphasis that last subject because of these old clips I found thanks to a blog by CountryRebel.com.

The year was 2006 and season five of American Idol began in January. One of the auditions was from a then 19-year-old girl from Albemarle, North Carolina. Kellie’s talent and charm seemed to win over the judges and earned her a spot on the show.

During the show, Kellie’s quirkiness and naivete became an endearing part of the show that helped to make her one of the most popular contestants on the show. That lack of worldly experience also made her an easy target for some good-natured fun from her fellow contestants, the judges and pretty much everybody involved with the show.

The show producers seemed to get that part of Kellie’s draw was (and still is) her amazing personality and they decided to use that to the show and Kellie’s benefit by giving her a special little feature.

The show enlisted 5-star, world famous chef Wolfgang Puck to give Kellie some lessons about delicacies from around the world. He presented the young southern girl with her first chance to try escargot (snails) and even tried to teach her about the proper way to order lobster at world renowned restaurants. Kellie’s reaction to both situations is too fun and now we can say is “classic Pickler.” Watch the videos of “Puck N Picker” from season five of American Idol below.

I have to say that season of American Idol is when Kellie Pickler began becoming one of “America’s Sweethearts” and remains that to this day.

By: Buck Stevens