“One of my first things ever to do after Idol…you were back-up dancing and I was doing ‘Miss Independent’…we were in a Wal-Mart parking lot!” Kelly reminisced.
Specifically, Kelly, the newly crowned American Idol champ, was doing a promotional appearance in the parking lot, singing her first post-Idol single, while a then-unknown Jenna worked as her back up dancer. There’s even a photo of the event, which you can see on Instagram.
“I signed [autographs] till 2:00 a.m. and like, we were just out there and she was dancing,” Kelly recalled. “And I was like, ‘God, you’re beautiful and can I dance like that maybe one day?'”
She laughed, “No. Turns out I just sing well, sometimes!”
But Kelly then told the pregnant dancer and actress why their encounter meant so much to her at the time.
“I was so excited ’cause I had no friends,” Kelly admitted. “At home I did. But I was working in L.A., I didn’t know anyone. And so it was just nice to, like, see a Texas girl and just so nice and you were kind. And I really needed somebody to be kind in that moment. And you were. And so thank you so much”
“Aww, Kelly, that’s so sweet!” gushed Jenna, who’s expecting her first child with her current boyfriend Steve Kazee. She also shares a daughter with her ex-husband, Channing Tatum. Kelly predicted that Jenna is having a boy.