Kelly Clarkson was born April 24, 1982. She won the popular TV show American Idol (Season 1) and became a real superstar.
She has won three Grammy Awards and has sold over 70 million records. Her voice is recognized as one of the best in pop music. And she is a role model for independent women in the music industry.
Kelly's childhood and early career
Kelly Clarkson grew up in Burlson, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth. Her parents divorced when she was 6 years old. Her mother took care of her upbringing. As a child, Kelly attended the Southern Baptist Church.
At 13, she sang in the halls of a high school. When the choir teacher heard her, he invited her to audition. Clarkson was a successful singer and actress in musicals in high school. She starred in the films: Annie Get Your Gun!, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Brigadoon.
The singer received scholarships to study music in college. But she turned them down in favor of moving to Los Angeles to pursue her musical career. After recording several compositions, Kelly Clarkson withdrew from recording contracts with Jive and Interscope. This was due to the fear that they would persecute her and prevent her from developing on her own.
Kelly Clarkson
After her Los Angeles apartment was destroyed by fire, Kelly Clarkson returned to Burlson, Texas. At the urging of one of her friends, she decided to take part in the American Idol show. Clarkson called the show's first season chaotic. The work of the show changed every day, and the participants were like children in the camp.
Kelly Clarkson's strong, confident voice and friendly personality have made her a favorite. On September 4, 2002, she was named the winner of American Idol. RCA Records immediately signed music industry legend Clive Davis and executive producer of the first album.
Kelly Clarkson's path to success
After winning the American Idol show, the singer immediately released her first single, A Moment Like This. It reached the top of the pop chart in its first week of release. She decided to stay in Texas instead of moving to the coast.
In the spring of 2003, Kelly Clarkson continued to work on her hit, releasing a full-length album, Thankful. The compilation was an impressive pop collection that captivated a young audience. Miss Independent is the first single from the album, which was another top 10 hit.
For her second album, Breakaway, the singer asserted more artistic control and brought grandiosity to many of the songs. The results turned her into a pop superstar.
The album, released in November 2004, has sold over 6 million copies in the US alone. The single Since U Been Gone reached number 1 on the pop singles chart, receiving acclaim from a wide range of critics and fans of rock and pop music.
The single Because of You touched many listeners with themes of family dysfunction. Thanks to the compositions from the album, the artist received two Grammy awards.
Kelly worked on her third album, My December, while still on tour. She showed herself in a more intense rock direction, demonstrated emotions and experiences.
The lack of radio playable pop singles led to disagreements with Clarkson's record company, including conflict with executive Clive Davis. Despite criticism, sales of the album were significant in 2007. In December, the single Never Again was released.
After the controversy and disappointment regarding the My December album, Kelly Clarkson worked in the country style. She also collaborated with superstar Reba McIntyre.
The couple embarked on a major national tour together. The artist signed a contract with Starstruck Entertainment. In June 2008, Kelly Clarkson confirmed that she was working on material for a fourth solo album.
Return to pop-mainstream
Many expected her fourth album to be country-influenced. However, instead she returned to something more like her "breakthrough" album Breakaway.
The first single, My Life Will Suck Without You, debuted on pop radio on January 16, 2009. Then came the album All I Ever Wanted. My Life Will Suck Without You was Clarkson's second hit. And All I Ever Wanted took 1st position on the album chart. Two additional top 40 popular hits followed from the compilation I Not Hook Up and Already Gone. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Kelly Clarkson released her fifth studio album Stronger in October 2011. She mentioned Tina Turner and the rock band Radiohead. The lead song Stronger was a hit on the pop singles chart and became the highest charting single of Kelly's career.
The album was the first to sell over 1 million copies since Breakaway in 2004. The Stronger album was nominated for three Grammy Awards. These are "Record of the Year", "Song of the Year", "Best Solo Pop Performance".
Kelly Clarkson Hits Collection
In 2012, Clarkson released a greatest hits collection. It was certified gold from sales and featured in the top 20 singles on the Catch My Breath chart. The first holiday album, Wrapped In Red, followed in 2013.
The Christmas theme and the concept of red combined the album. But it had a varied sound with jazz, country and R&B influences. Wrapped In Red was a hit with Best Holiday Album (2013) and one of the top 20 the following year. It received a "platinum" sales certification. And the single Under the Tree topped the adult contemporary chart.
The seventh studio album, Piece By Piece, was released in February 2015. It was the last album under the contract with RCA. Despite positive reviews, the album was a commercial disappointment at first.
Heartbeat Song was her first single from a studio album that failed to reach the top 10. The album debuted at number 1 but quickly disappeared from sales. In February 2016, Kelly Clarkson returned to the stage for the final season of American Idol and performed Piece By Piece.
Thanks to the dramatic performance, the artist received critical acclaim. And the song entered the top 10, taking the 8th position on the chart. Piece By Piece received two Grammy nominations, including a fourth for Best Vocal Album.
Kelly Clarkson New Directions
In June 2016, Kelly Clarkson announced that she had signed a new recording deal with Atlantic Records. Her eighth studio album Meaning of Life went on sale on October 27, 2017. The album reached number 2 on the charts in the midst of heavy criticism.
The lead single Love So Soft failed to reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. But it did reach the top 10 on the pop radio chart. Thanks to the remixes, the song took the 1st position in the dance map. And the singer received the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance.
Clarkson appeared as a coach on the hit TV show The Voice (Season 14) in 2018. She led 15-year-old Brynn Cartelli (pop and soul singer) to victory. In May, the producers of The Voice announced that Clarkson would return to the show for a 15th season in the fall of 2018.
Personal life of Kelly Clarkson
In 2012, Kelly Clarkson began dating Brandon Blackstock (son of her manager Narvel Blackstock). The couple married on October 20, 2013 in Walland, Tennessee.
The couple has four children. He has a son and a daughter from a previous marriage. She gave birth to a daughter in 2014 and a son in 2016.
Kelly's phenomenal success reflects the influence of American Idol on American pop music. She legitimized the show's ability to find new stars. Clarkson has sold over 70 million records worldwide. Her voice has been noted by many observers as one of the best in pop music since 2000.
Clarkson's focus on music and battles against those who look at the looks of pop singers has made her a role model for young women in music. With the album Meaning of Life (2017), she proved that her voice can easily move across the spectrum of country and pop music, R&B.
