And tomorrow, the world

Kelly Clarkson was the first “American Idol,” but how does she rate next to other singing “Idols”?

The answer will be determined as she and the winners of similar competitions in other countries face off in “World Idol,” a new Fox special airing on consecutive Thursdays, tonight and Jan. 1.

Staged in England, the home of “Pop Idol” (the show that launched all the others of its kind), the contest gathers 11 contenders before an international panel of judges. As with “American Idol,” viewers can cast their own votes at the end of the Christmas-night episode.

Besides Clarkson, the other “Idols” are: Peter Evrard, Belgium; Alicja Janosz, Poland; Diana Karazon, Lebanon; Kurt Nilsen, Norway; Alexander Klaws, Germany; Jamai Loman, Netherlands; Ryan Malcolm, Canada; Guy Sebastian, Australia; Heinz Winckler, South Africa; and Will Young, United Kingdom. “World Idol” also is slated to air in their home countries.

Clarkson already has had a taste of the world this year through her international travels, including a recent trip to Italy to promote “The Trouble With Love,” her contribution to the soundtrack of the movie “Love Actually.”

“I have to get another page in my passport, but that’s OK,” she says. “It’s cool, just the fact that I’m getting to travel so much and do what I love. I’ve gone to just about every country that the other ‘Idols’ are from, and the show has been such a success everywhere else, it’s great that all the different cultures can come together now on one show.

“I’ve already met three or so of the other ‘Idol’ winners, and they all seem pretty cool. They’re all pretty much the same person, just with different singing styles. I performed on ‘Australian Idol,’ and everybody in America is just gonna love Guy Sebastian. He has big, curly hair that makes him look like Justin Guarini [the runner-up to Clarkson in the first ‘American Idol’].”

Although she’s friendly with the fellow “Idols” she already has met, Clarkson isn’t worried about becoming one of their “World Idol” rivals.

“It’s just exciting. I’m excited just about having conversations with them. I’m sure we’ll all go out to dinner and see how everyone else has been doing with [their ‘Idol’ victories]. My life has been completely hectic, but wonderful ... and in other countries, they don’t know me from ‘American Idol.’ To have my music do well there without that identification is kind of a cool thing.”

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‘World Idols’

Where: Fox

When: Tonight at 8

Jay Bobbin writes for Tribune Media Services.