Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson singing the U.S. National Anthem at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on September 11 2002.
Background information
Years active	2002–present

Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, and occasional actress who rose to prominence after winning the first season of the reality-television series American Idol in 2002. Signed to RCA Records, she was initially marketed as a pop musician with her commercially successful debut album Thankful (2003), but her popularity had begun to diminish by the year's end. Clarkson took more creative control over her music and developed a more rock-oriented image for the release of her second album, Breakaway (2004), which yielded the highest sales of her career. Clarkson has released numerous worldwide top-ten singles, and her two albums to date have received platinum certifications in several countries.

Biography and music career

Early life

Clarkson was born in Fort Worth, Texas to Stephen Michael Clarkson and Jeanne Ann Rose, a first grade English teacher. She is of Greek (mother) and Welsh (father) descent. She eventually moved to Burleson, Texas after fourth grade. In middle school, she was overheard singing in a school corridor by a teacher, who invited her to join the school choir. Her participation in choral and musical activities spurred her interest in a recording career and, following her high school graduation, she relocated to Los Angeles, California.

Clarkson worked as an extra on television (one such appearance was on Sabrina the Teenage Witch), had a small role in the 2002 film Issues 101, and worked briefly with songwriter Gerry Goffin. After her Los Angeles apartment burned down, however, she moved back to Texas, discouraged but still intent on a career in show business. She still managed some odd jobs such as cocktail waitress, Red Bull promo girl, and telemarketer.

American Idol competition

Clarkson auditioned for American Idol along with ten thousand other people in 2002. Impressed by her performance, the panel of judges put her through to the next round. Upon landing a final thirty spot, Clarkson was praised by the judges for her rendition of Aretha Franklin's "Respect". She moved on to the final ten, receiving a number two spot in her group. Once in the top ten, Clarkson gradually moved into the position of competition favorite, performing songs such as Carole King's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", Mariah Carey's "Without You" and Bette Midler's "Stuff Like That There". Clarkson, Clay Aiken of season two and Carrie Underwood of season four were the only contestants in American Idol history who succeeded in staying out of the bottom three places in weekly voting results. Clarkson and Underwood both went on to win the competition, while Aiken became runner-up.

On September 4 2002, Clarkson won the competition, earning 58% of the audience vote over Justin Guarini. As the newly crowned "American Idol", Clarkson performed the ballad "A Moment Like This." Clarkson later told the Ft. Worth Star Telegram: "Look at me. I'm from Texas and I'm white. So what does everybody think I'm gonna sing? Country. I love country to death, but I'm too bluesy...Soulful and bluesy, that's what I'm all about". She also cited Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Steve Perry, Aretha Franklin and Reba McEntire as her influences. [1]

Thankful

Clarkson's first single, "A Moment Like This", was released in October 2002 and quickly became a number one hit in the U.S. and Canada, and was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA for shipments of over one million copies. Her debut album, Thankful, was released by RCA Records on April 15 2003, and was certified double platinum in the U.S. the following month (and platinum in Canada), but sold poorly in the UK. Thankful included four tracks co-written by Clarkson, one of which was "You Thought Wrong", a duet she co-wrote with another season one finalist, Tamyra Gray. The album received good reviews, though criticized Clarkson's music for being too commercial. All Music Guide wrote of Clarkson and the album: "Throughout this record, she makes it seem effortless and charming. [Clarkson] can croon, she can belt out a song, she can be sexy and sassy while still being graceful and as wholesome as the girl next door".^[2]

File:Justin to kelly.jpg

Anika Noni Rose, Katherine Bailess and Clarkson in the film From Justin to Kelly (2003).

The album's second single, "Miss Independent" (which was co-written by Clarkson and Christina Aguilera), was a top ten hit in the U.S., Canada and the UK, but subsequent singles "Low" and "The Trouble with Love Is" were far less successful, fueling speculation amongst music critics that "A Moment Like This" and "Miss Independent" were fluke hits. They wrote Clarkson off as an Idol product and said that she would be incapable of establishing her independence in the music industry. Clarkson starred with fellow American Idol contestant Justin Guarini in the film From Justin to Kelly, which was released in the summer of 2003. The film received weak reviews, with some critics naming it one of the worst films ever made, and was a box office disaster. The two stars revealed that their work in the film was stipulated in their Idol contracts. Rumors were spread that Justin and Kelly dated at this time, but Kelly says that these rumors were incorrect and that "I am flattered that people think that I could get Justin. He's hot."

In September 2003, Clarkson appeared on NBC's American Dreams as Brenda Lee, and performed the song, "Sweet Nothings". In December 2003, Clarkson participated in the World Idol competition, eventually placing second to Norwegian Idol winner Kurt Nilsen. In 2004, Clarkson received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Miss Independent". Later in 2004, Clarkson embarked on the thirty-city "Independent Tour" with fellow Idol contestant Clay Aiken.

Breakaway

In the summer of 2004, Clarkson returned to the music industry with the single "Breakaway", from the film The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, which became her biggest hit in the U.S. since her debut single. It preceded Clarkson's pop rock, Adult contemporary and rock and roll–influenced second album, Breakaway, released in the U.S. on November 30 2004. Clarkson, who co-wrote over half of the album's tracks with songwriters and producers such as Max Martin, singer Avril Lavigne, and former Evanescence band members Ben Moody and David Hodges, categorized the album as being in the pop rock genre, unlike Thankful. Breakaway received praise from critics, who noted its harder, more rock and roll-flavored edge, one that invited comparisons to Avril Lavigne. Breakaway (the album) received a fifth U.S. platinum certification (five million shipped) in January 2006 and was 2005's third best-selling album. It became her first platinum album in the UK (later receiving the triple platinum award) and was also was certified quadruple platinum in Canada and six times platinum in Australia. One full year after its release, it has not left the top-twenty of the U.S. Billboard 200, and it is only the fourth album in SoundScan history to do so. In 2005, Clarkson was named by Teen People magazine as one of the "Hottest 25 Stars Under 25", and received two Grammy Award nominations, including one for Best Pop Vocal Album.

File:Becauseofyou.png

Clarkson in the music video for "Because of You".

The album's second single, "Since U Been Gone," peaked at number two on the U.S. Hot 100 (and was successful on the majority of Billboard formats), was a top five single in the UK and reached number one in Canada. It has become Clarkson's biggest hit to date and one of the biggest singles of 2005, was nominated for the Record of the Year award in the UK and the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Subsequent singles "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and "Because of You" both reached the U.S. top ten and the Canadian top five, and the latter was one of the most requested songs on teen radio in 2005. With "Because of You," Clarkson became the first pop artist since Christina Aguilera to have four top-ten hits from the same album. In Canada, Clarkson became one of the few international artists to have four top-five hits from the same album. "Walk Away" was the fifth single released from Breakaway.

Discography

Album information
Thankful Released: April 15 2003 (North America) Chart positions: #1 U.S., #1 CAN, #33 AUS, #41 UK, #83 NL Certifications: 2x platinum (RIAA — U.S.), platinum (CRIA — Canada), gold (ARIA — Australia) U.S. sales: 2,429,700 Worldwide sales: 4 million Singles: 2002: "Before Your Love" ¹ — - Released with "A Moment Like This" 2002: "A Moment Like This" ¹ — #1 (2 weeks) US (Platinum), #1 CAN (2x platinum), #20 Indonesia 2003: "Miss Independent" — #9 U.S. (Gold), #6 CAN, #3 AUS, #6 UK, #9 NL, #35 Indonesia 2003: "Low" — #58 U.S., #2 CAN, #11 AUS, #49 Indonesia 2003: "The Trouble with Love Is" ² — #101 U.S., #35 UK, #11 AUS, #32 NL, #48 Indonesia ¹ Released in the U.S. as a double A-side with "Before Your Love". ² Released in the UK as a double A-side with "Low".
Breakaway Released: November 30, 2004 (North America) Chart positions: #3 U.S., #6 CAN, #2 AUS, #3 U.K., #5 NZ, #1 IRE, #3 NL, #1 MAL, #6 SWE, #9 NOR U.S. sales: 5+ million UK sales: 1,259,000 [3] Worldwide sales: 7.7+ million Certifications: 6x platinum (Australia), 5x platinum (U.S.), 4x platinum (Canada), 3x platinum (UK, New Zealand), 2x platinum (Ireland), platinum (South Africa, Indonesia, Singapore), gold (Sweden) Singles: 2004: "Breakaway" — #6 U.S. (3x platinum), #3 CAN, #10 AUS, #12 NZ, #1 Indonesia 2004: "Since U Been Gone" — #2 U.S. (5x platinum), #1 CAN, #3 AUS, #5 UK, #11 NZ, #4 NL, #1 SA, #1 Indonesia 2005: "Behind These Hazel Eyes" — #6 U.S. (3x platinum), #4 CAN, #6 AUS, #9 UK, #9 NZ, #7 NL, #2 SA, #1 Indonesia 2005: "Because of You" — #7 U.S. (2x platinum), #2 CAN, #4 AUS (Gold), #7 UK, #5 IRE, #1 NL, #1 SA, #19 NZ, #1 Indonesia 2006: "Walk Away" — #66 U.S., #72 CAN

Remixes

See List of Kelly Clarkson Remixes.

Concert tours

See Kelly Clarkson concert tours.

Awards and nominations

See List of Kelly Clarkson awards and nominations.

References

1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. All Music Guide. Retrieved Nov. 27, 2005.
2. Reference for Kelly Clarkson's Worldwide Sales

External links

• Official website and fan club
• Official homepage
• Kelly's discography from Music City
• Official UK homepage
• Kelly Clarkson at IMDb
• Template:Nndb name
• Kelly Clarkson Lyrics
• Google directory
• Lyrics of the songs by Kelly Clarkson

Fansites

• Kelly Clarkson Kellyville
• Ultimate KC
• Kelly Clarkson Online
• KC Addiction
• German Forum