Kelly Clarkson’s album Piece by Piece fulfilled the recording contract Clarkson had signed as part of winning American Idol ’​s first season in 2002 with 19 Recordings and RCA Records, making her a free agent and the first American Idol contestant to successfully complete the feat. Quite a contrast to the Texan girl who auditioned for the inaugural season of American Idol, and now the show that put her on the charts is approaching its final run.

Mostly everyone knows how the show works. “People audition and get into Hollywood.” Mya Lebron said. Then they compete each week performing a song from a chosen genre and present their performance to three judges and an audience who all critique the performance, the audience votes for who they want to move on to next week. Until the final two are put against each other and the winner is offered a prize (in this case a record deal). This has been the show formula since 2002, and while American Idol is not the first show of its kind, it has lasted longer than most shows to follow said format. During that time, the show has lost all three of its original judges, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowel, and Randy Jackson by season 13 (2014).

It would seem that the show did not—for some fans—age well. When asked for his opinion about the show ending Tristan Hogan said, “I think it’s a little too late cause once they lost their three judges it wasn’t the same.” This would explain the stark ratings decline as the years went on. Perhaps with time, fans will demand it back but for now, the primetime show makes its last curtain call.