Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson
Clarkson at the 57th Presidential Inauguration, January 21, 2013
Background information
Birth name	Kelly Brianne Clarkson
Born	(1982-04-24) April 24, 1982 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Origin	Burleson, Texas
Genres	Pop rock pop
Occupations	Singer songwriter
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2002–present
Labels	RCA 19 S
Website	kellyclarkson.com

Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer and songwriter. She rose to fame in 2002 after winning the first season of American Idol, and has since been established as "The Original American Idol." Her debut single, "A Moment Like This", topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and became the best-selling single of 2002 in the United States. She became the runner-up of World Idol the following year. Clarkson's debut studio album, Thankful (2003), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) while selling over 4.5 million copies worldwide. Its lead single, "Miss Independent," became an international top-ten hit.

Trying to reinvent her own image, Clarkson decided to part ways with American Idol management and developed a rock-oriented sound for her second album, Breakaway (2004). It was certified sixtuple platinum and sold over 15 million copies worldwide. The album earned Clarkson two Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Taking full creative control of her third album, My December (2007), Clarkson served as the executive producer and co-wrote the entire album's material. Clarkson's fourth album, All I Ever Wanted (2009), became her second album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. Its lead single, "My Life Would Suck Without You", holds the record for the biggest jump to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Clarkson's fifth studio album, Stronger (2011), won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album, making her the only act to receive the award twice. The album scored her third number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", which remains the best-selling single of her career. Clarkson's sixth album and first Christmas music release, Wrapped in Red (2013), became the best-selling holiday album of the year, making her the first American female artist to achieve this goal. In 2015, Clarkson released her seventh studio album, Piece by Piece, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming her third number one album in the United States. Its lead single, "Heartbeat Song" was certified platinum and became Clarkson's fifth consecutive number one on the US Hot Dance Club Songs.

Apart from her work in music, Clarkson has also ventured into television and film, beginning with her leading role in the romantic musical From Justin to Kelly (2003). She is known for her vocal versatility and range. Her music has mainly dealt with themes of heartbreak, independence, and self-empowerment for women and young teens. Her musical work has also gained her numerous accolades, including three Grammy Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and two Academy of Country Music Awards. In a career spanning over a decade, Clarkson has accumulated over 90 Billboard No. 1 hits and sold over 25 million albums worldwide. In 2012, Clarkson was ranked nineteenth on VH1's list of "100 Greatest Women in Music." Billboard also ranked Clarkson as the 14th-best-selling artist of the 2000s.

Early life and career beginnings

Clarkson was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Jeanne Ann (née Rose), a first-grade English teacher, and Stephen Michael Clarkson, a former engineer. Clarkson is the youngest of three children with a brother, Jason, who appeared in one of her music videos, and a sister, Alyssa. Clarkson also has two younger half brothers from her father's second marriage. Clarkson's parents divorced when she was five years old, following which her brother lived with their father, she stayed with their mother, and her sister went to live with an aunt. Clarkson's mother later remarried, to Jimmy Taylor. Her ancestry is Greek (from a maternal great-grandfather), Welsh, English, Irish, German, and Scottish. Her mother is a descendant of Republican state senator Isaiah Rose, whose life story was discussed on Clarkson's episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, in 2013. Clarkson was raised Southern Baptist. She has said: "I always grew up in church. I was the leader of our youth group. I’ve always grown up pretty close to church and with God. But I think I’ve just gotten a lot closer just because He’s the only One I can lean on." She later said of her upbringing: "My family was highly conservative; I had to go to church on Sunday and Wednesday."

Clarkson initially wanted to become a marine biologist, but changed her mind after viewing the film Jaws. Clarkson was educated at Pauline Hughes Middle School and in the seventh grade, the school's choir teacher, Cynthia Glenn, overheard her singing in a hallway and asked her to audition for the school choir. Clarkson told her that she had never received any professional vocal training. Clarkson graduated from Burleson High School, where she performed in several musicals, such as Annie Get Your Gun, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Brigadoon. She sang at her high school talent show, after which an audience member shared some inspiring words with her: "God has given you this gift. You've got to sing. You're destined to sing." Clarkson continued singing and soon started classical training, hoping that music would be her ticket to a college scholarship. Upon graduating from high school, Clarkson was offered full scholarships to The University of Texas at Austin, University of North Texas, and Berklee College of Music, but later declined them, explaining: "I've already written so much music and wanted to try a career on my own" adding, "you're never too old to go to college."

After graduation, Clarkson worked several jobs to finance a demo, recording material and trying to market it to record labels, but received little response. Clarkson turned down two recording contracts from Jive Records and Interscope Records, stating "They would have completely pigeonholed me as a bubblegum act. I was confident enough that something better would come along." In 2001, she traveled to Los Angeles, trying to pursue a career in music. She appeared as an extra in a few television series such as Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Dharma & Greg and briefly worked with musician Gerry Goffin to record five demo tracks in trying to secure a record deal. Lack of other career opportunities and a fire incident in her apartment forced Clarkson to return to Burleson, where she worked at a movie theater, promoted Red Bull energy drinks, and worked as a telemarketer and as a cocktail waitress in a comedy club.

Career

2002–03: American Idol and World Idol

Main articles: American Idol (season 1) and World Idol

Clarkson performed at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2002, following her win on American Idol

Upon returning to Burleson, Clarkson was encouraged by her friends to audition for the inaugural season of the reality television series American Idol: The Search for a Superstar in May 2002. Despite receiving a golden ticket in the series premiere, Clarkson made her first appearance during the second episode. Clarkson went on to win the competition on September 4, 2002 at the then Kodak Theatre (now Dolby), earning 58% of the votes against runner-up Justin Guarini and without being sent into the bottom three throughout the season. In an interview in 2012, Clarkson referred the inaugural season as "ghetto", explaining: "On our season we were like kids in camp. Nobody knew what to do. The show was ever-changing every day. They did one season of Pop Idol in the UK but America is a very different market. They dropped us off in a mall and said find some clothes to wear on national television. I am maybe the closest to white trash you can get. What do I buy? White pants I guess? I definitely looked like a cocktail waitress."

Immediately after winning American Idol, Clarkson was signed to a record deal with RCA Records, 19 Recordings, and S Records by talent manager Simon Fuller, who created American Idol; and music mogul Clive Davis, who was slated to executive-produce her debut album. Clarkson was later accused of working with a record company prior to winning American Idol. American Idol's rules stated that a contestant was not allowed to compete on the program if they had been linked to a record company. However, she was cleared of all allegations, as she only had a contract in order to conduct demonstration work. On September 17, 2002, her debut double-A-side single, "Before Your Love"/"A Moment Like This", was released. Both songs were performed by Clarkson during the season finale of American Idol. The single debuted at the Billboard Hot 100 chart on the week ending September 21, 2002 at number 60. The following week, it climbed to number 52, and subsequently ascended to number 1, breaking a 38-year-old record set by the British band The Beatles for the biggest leap to number one after their single "Can't Buy Me Love" rose from number 27 to number 1 in April 1964. It became her first number one single in the United States and Canada and eventually went on to become the best-selling single of 2002 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

On December 25, 2003, Clarkson participated in the television special competition World Idol in London along with the inaugural winners of the several Idol television series around the world. Clarkson was contractually obligated to participate, and performed Aretha Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman". On January 1, 2004, she became the runner-up behind the first Norwegian Idol Kurt Nilsen.

American Idol season 1 performances and results
Week #	Theme	Song choice	Original artist	Order #	Result
Audition	Dallas	"Express Yourself" "At Last"	Madonna Glenn Miller & His Orchestra	N/A	Advanced
Top 121	Hollywood round 1	"Respect"	Otis Redding
Top 65	Hollywood round 2	"I Say a Little Prayer"	Dionne Warwick
Top 45	Hollywood round 3	"Save the Best for Last"	Vanessa L. Williams
Top 30	Semifinal/Group 2	"Respect"	Otis Redding	9
Top 10	Motown	"You're All I Need to Get By"	Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell	8	Safe
Top 8	1960s	"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"	Aretha Franklin	5
Top 7	1970s	"Don't Play That Song (You Lied)"	Ben E. King
Top 6	Big Band	"Stuff Like That There"	Betty Hutton	6
Top 5	Burt Bacharach Love Songs	"Walk On By"	Dionne Warwick	1
Top 4	1980s 1990s	"It's Raining Men" "I Surrender"	The Weather Girls Celine Dion	3 7
Top 3	Idol's Choice Judges' Choice	"Think Twice" "Without You"	Celine Dion Badfinger	3 6
Top 2	Finale	"A Moment Like This" "Respect" "Before Your Love"	Kelly Clarkson Otis Redding Kelly Clarkson	2 4 6	Winner

World Idol performance and results
Song choice	GER	AUS	GCC	CAN	NLD	SOA	POL	USA	BEL	UK	NOR	Total	Result
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"	9	9	5	9	9	8	8	12	9	9	10	97	Runner-up

2003–04: Thankful

Executive produced by Davis, Clarkson's debut album, Thankful, was released on April 15, 2003. The album contained aspects of pop, contemporary R&B, and gospel music, with several established musicians such as Christina Aguilera, Diane Warren, The Underdogs, and Babyface contributing on to the tracks. Released during the urban-R&B dominance, the album was well received by several critics. However, several critics noted that her early achievement was established due to her performances on American Idol. Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the album for its vocal ability: "throughout this record, (Clarkson) makes it seem effortless and charming. She 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." Henry Goldblatt of Entertainment Weekly remarked: "Clarkson glides through octaves with the masterful control of someone who's been doing this for decades." Clarkson supported Thankful by performing in different locations around the world, such as 2003 NRL grand final, the first season of Australian Idol, and the second series of Pop Idol. She and American Idol season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken co-headlined the Independent Tour throughout the United States in 2004. Thankful debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and went on to become a commercial success. It was later certified double platinum by the RIAA, platinum in Canada, and gold in Japan and Australia.

Its lead single, "Miss Independent", became her first international hit—charting in the top ten in five national charts, including the United States, and was later certified gold by the RIAA. It earned Clarkson her first Grammy Award nomination for "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" at the 46th Grammy Awards. Its follow-up single, "Low", was released to moderate success. And its final single, "The Trouble with Love Is", was released as a promotional single for the British romantic film Love Actually and failed to chart in the United States. Her first video album, Miss Independent, was released on November 18, 2003 and was certified gold by the RIAA.

Clarkson made her film debut with Guarini with the release of the musical romantic comedy film From Justin to Kelly in June 2003. The film was poorly received by critics and was unsuccessful at the box office, with Clarkson explaining that she was "contractually obligated" to do the film. Between 2002, Clarkson, along with American Idol judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson and hosts Brian Dunkleman and Ryan Seacrest, participated in the season premiere of the eighth season of the television comedy series MADtv. She also portrayed Brenda Lee in two episodes of the television drama American Dreams between 2003 and 2004.

2004–06: Breakaway

Clarkson performing during her Hazel Eyes concert tour on November 15, 2005, Canberra, Australia

Trying to distance herself from her American Idol image, Clarkson decided to part ways with Fuller and 19 Management and hired the services of talent manager Jeff Kwatinetz of The Firm. She took more creative control and developed a more pop rock-oriented sound with the production of her second studio album, Breakaway. Executive-produced by Davis, Breakaway was released on November 30, 2004. Clarkson co-wrote six of the tracks with pop and rock songwriters such as former Evanescence band members Ben Moody and David Hodges, Kara DioGuardi, Dr. Luke and Max Martin. The title track was co-written by pop punk singer Avril Lavigne. The album received critical acclaim, with Erlewine of AllMusic remarking: "What gives Breakaway its spine are the driving, anthemic pop tunes, numbers that sound simultaneously mainstream and youthful, which is a hard trick to pull off, and they are the tracks that illustrate that Clarkson is a rare thing in the 2000s: a pop singer who's neither hip nor square, just solidly and enjoyably in the mainstream." Breakaway became a commercial success and eventually became her most successful album to date. After debuting at number 3 on the Billboard 200 in 2004, the album's chart longevity allowed it to become the third-best-selling album of 2005 in the United States and was certified sextuple platinum by the RIAA. The album also enjoyed success throughout the world; it topped the charts in the Netherlands and Ireland and became the world's seventh-best-selling album of 2005 and went on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide—becoming the most successful album by an Idol contestant in history. Clarkson supported Breakaway with the Breakaway World Tour—consisting of three sub-tours from 2005 to 2006. It also garnered Clarkson several accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 48th Grammy Awards.

All singles from Breakaway became international hits: its titular lead single, "Breakaway", originally served as an original song for the Disney film The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement in 2004. The single became a commercial success—peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually became her longest-running No. 1 song, where it was No. 1 for 28 weeks on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Audience chart. The follow-up single, "Since U Been Gone", became the album's most successful release—peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually becoming her most successful single on the Billboard Hot 100 to date. It garnered Clarkson numerous accolades, including two MTV Video Music Awards and a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 48th Grammy Awards. Furthermore, the single was critically acclaimed by both the pop music and the rock music scene by Ted Leo, Fall Out Boy, Simple Plan, Yellowcard, Switchfoot, and Evanescence. The third and fourth singles, "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and "Because of You", also followed suit—peaking at number 6 and 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. "Because of You" also received critical acclaim and more success worldwide, by topping the charts in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Switzerland. Clarkson performed all the singles in various award shows—she performed "Since U Been Gone" at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards and at the 2006 BRIT Awards; and "Because of You" at the 48th Grammy Awards. The final single, "Walk Away", also enjoyed chart success, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite releasing "Walk Away" as her only single in 2006, Clarkson still became the most-played artist of 2006 in the United States.

Clarkson's second video album, Behind Hazel Eyes, was released on March 29, 2005. In 2005, she performed and participated during the thirtieth season of the American sketch-comedy series, Saturday Night Live, and the reality series Damage Control with Simple Plan frontman Pierre Bouvier. She performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Game 2 of the NBA Finals. She also performed during the festivities All-Star Game and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy; In 2006, Clarkson recorded a song titled "Go" as a free download for the Ford Motor Company advertising campaign. She has also performed "What Hurts the Most" with Rascal Flatts at the ACM Awards and "Cigarettes" with the country duo The Wreckers during one of their shows in Texas in 2006.

2006–08: My December

Clarkson and Reba McEntire performing during the 2 Worlds 2 Voices Tour

On June 22, 2007, Clarkson's third studio album, My December, was released. Unlike Breakaway, the album relied on darker themes and was more rock-oriented. All tracks were co-written by Clarkson, and she opted to collaborate with her band members rather than her previous producers and collaborators. Its production and release became a subject of a dispute with RCA, particularly with Davis (who ultimately decided not to executive produce the album) and Kwatinetz. Davis noted the album's lack of professional production input and wanted her to re-record tracks with a more mainstream appeal—to which she refused. The album received substantial positive reception and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, but lack of promotion due to reluctance of RCA led Clarkson to dismiss Kwatinetz and Live Nation to cancel its accompanying tour, the My December Tour, and reschedule it into a smaller scale with supporting acts Jon McLaughlin, Sean Kingston and Mandy Moore. Clarkson later hired the services of talent manager Narvel Blackstock of Starstruck Management. Blackstock is the husband of country artist Reba McEntire, of whom Clarkson is a close friend. A month after the album's release, Clarkson issued an apology to Davis; she remarked: "He has been a key advisor and has been an important force in my success to date. He has also given me respect by releasing my new album when he was not obligated to do so. I really regret how this has turned out and I apologize to those whom I have done disservice." My December was certified platinum by the RIAA and has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide.

Clarkson at the Live Earth concert

Its lead single, "Never Again", became a commercial success due to its promotion on American Idol. It debuted and peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her highest debut on the chart. The subsequent singles, "Sober", "One Minute", and "Don't Waste Your Time", failed to follow suit by charting in a single chart. In 2007, Clarkson, along with Jeff Beck, performed a cover of Patty Griffin's "Up to the Mountain" on the Idol Gives Back charity special—which was released as a promotional single and charted at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100. She later performed "Never Again" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (with Joe Perry) at the sixth season finale of American Idol. On July 7, 2007, Clarkson performed on the American leg of Live Earth concert. Clarkson also performed on the fifth season of Canadian Idol (where she became a guest mentor), the fourth season finale of Swedish Idol, 2007 NFL opening kickoff festivities, and at the halftime show for the Dallas Cowboys/New York Jets game on Thanksgiving Day 2007. Clarkson partnered with NASCAR during their 2007 season, appearing in televised advertisements, performed at pre-race concerts, promoted NASCAR Day, and appeared at the Champions' Banquet in December. In April 2008, Clarkson participated in a Papal Youth Rally at the campus of St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie in Yonkers, New York, performing a mini-concert for those in attendance. That was the Papal visit of Pope Benedict XVI. She performed Schubert's "Ave Maria" for the Pope later in the day following the Pope's speech.

Throughout 2008, Clarkson began her musical endeavor in country music by pairing with Reba McEntire, recording an hour-long CMT Crossroads special at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on February 22, 2007. Introduced by Dolly Parton, she performed "Why Haven't I Heard From You" and "Does He Love You" with Martina McBride on the television special CMT Giants: Reba McEntire. Clarkson also appeared on an episode of McEntire's sitcom Reba, that aired on January 14, 2007. At the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 16, 2007, Clarkson and McEntire sang a duet version of "Because of You", which also became the lead single from McEntire's album Reba: Duets, the song peaked at No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 on the Billboard Country Chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals at the 50th Grammy Awards. In 2008, Clarkson and McEntire also embarked on the 2 Worlds 2 Voices Tour to support Reba: Duets and My December.

2008–10: All I Ever Wanted

Clarkson at the red carpet of the 2009 VH1 Divas special

Clarkson's fourth album, All I Ever Wanted, was released on March 10, 2009. Its production oversaw Clarkson returning to a mainstream-oriented sound by reuniting with previous collaborators Dr. Luke, Martin, and DioGuardi, and new collaborators Howard Benson, Claude Kelly, Ryan Tedder, Glen Ballard, Matt Thiessen and Katy Perry in contributing tracks for the album. The release of All I Ever Wanted was met with positive acclaim from music critics for its lighter themes. The album also became a commercial success; it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and stayed there for two weeks. Clarkson supported All I Ever Wanted with the All I Ever Wanted Tour from 2009–2010. The album has sold 960,000 copies in the United States and garnered Clarkson her second nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album.

Its first single, "My Life Would Suck Without You", became an international hit. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 97 and rose to number one the following week—breaking the record for the biggest jump to number one on a single week previously held by Britney Spears's "Womanizer". It also marked the second time Clarkson broke the record, the first being the ascent of "Before Your Love"/"A Moment Like This" in 2002. It also topped the charts in the United Kingdom, Canada and Hungary. The second single, "I Do Not Hook Up", continued the chart success by peaking at the number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The third single, "Already Gone", reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. The release of "Already Gone" became a subject of another dispute with RCA—particularly with its similarities with Beyoncé's song "Halo", both of which were produced by Tedder. Further promotion for the album was abruptly ended at the release of its titular fourth and final singles, "All I Ever Wanted", which peaked at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100; and "Cry", which saw a limited release.

Clarkson performed as one of many main artists for the return of VH1 Divas in September 2009. She also became a guest mentor on the Dutch television series X Factor in November 2009. Clarkson continued her country ventures by pairing with Jason Aldean to record the duet "Don't You Wanna Stay" for his album My Kinda Party in November 2010. They performed it together on the tenth season of American Idol, at the 2010 CMA Awards and at the 54th Grammy Awards. It received numerous country accolades, including a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards. The song has sold over two million digital downloads, making it the best-selling country collaboration in history.

2011–12: Stronger

Clarkson performing in Sudbury, Canada, in 2011

Clarkson's fifth studio album, Stronger, was released on October 21, 2011. Clarkson revealed that the album "was influenced by Prince, Tina Turner, Sheryl Crow, Radiohead and there's a little bit of a country vibe/influence on a couple of songs." Clarkson collaborated with several producers including Greg Kurstin, Ester Dean, Darkchild, Toby Gad, Steve Jordan and Howard Benson. Stronger became a commercial success, debuting at number 2 on the Billboard 200, and has sustained chart longevity. The release of the album was accompanied by a limited release of her first extended play, The Smoakstack Sessions, which featured alternate versions of tracks from Stronger and All I Ever Wanted. Stronger was certified Platinum by the RIAA and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards, making her the only artist to win the award twice.

Its lead single, "Mr. Know It All", was released on September 5, 2011. It reached number one in Australia and South Korea and attained a top ten position in seven countries, including the Billboard Hot 100. It also became a crossover hit to the country charts, prompting RCA to reissue a country version. Its second and titular single, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", became the album's most successful release, and her most successful single overall. It topped sixteen Billboard charts, including the Hot 100. It also reached number one in Poland and Slovakia and became her biggest hit in over 18 other countries. It eventually sold over five million copies worldwide, and was nominated for three Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance. Its third and final single, "Dark Side", was released to substantial success.

Clarkson had promoted Stronger in several countries, including 2011 NRL Grand Final, and the British, American, German and, Australian versions of The X Factor. She supported Stronger with two concert tours—the Stronger Tour and the co-headlining the Kelly Clarkson / The Fray Tour with the alternative rock band The Fray. Her second extended play, iTunes Session, was released on December 23, 2011. it debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 85, and was preceded by the release of a cover of "I'll Be Home For Christmas". Clarkson co-wrote "Tell Me a Lie" with Tom Meredith and Shep Solomon, which was recorded by the boy band One Direction for their debut album, Up All Night (2011).

2012–14: Greatest Hits – Chapter One and Wrapped in Red

On February 5, 2012, Clarkson performed The Star-Spangled Banner at Super Bowl XLVI to widespread critical acclaim. She also became a guest mentor to Blake Shelton's contestants on season two of the American television series The Voice and a resident mentor on the reality television series Duets. She later released a promotional single, "Get Up (A Cowboys Anthem)", for use in Pepsi's NFL advertising campaign.

Clarkson performing as part of her Stronger Tour, October 2012

Clarkson's first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits – Chapter One, was released on November 19, 2012. As with the release of Stronger, Chapter One was accompanied by a limited release of her third extended play, The Smoakstack Sessions Vol. 2. Three songs recorded for the compilation: "Catch My Breath", "Don't Rush", and "People Like Us", were all released as singles. "Catch My Breath", the first single, was released on October 2012 peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, and concluded as the number 3 AC song of 2013. "Don't Rush", featuring country musician Vince Gill, was also released on October 2012, peaking at number 87 on the Hot 100 and nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. "People Like Us", the third and final single, was released in April 2013, charting at number 65 on the Hot 100. She supported Chapter One on the 12th Annual Honda Civic Tour, where she performed as the special guest to the pop rock band Maroon 5. Chapter One was certified Gold by the RIAA

In October 2012, Clarkson collaborated with Shelton on a cover of "There's a New Kid in Town", which was included on his Christmas album, Cheers, It's Christmas. They both performed it on his Christmas television special, Blake Shelton's Not So Family Christmas, in December 2012. She also collaborated on recording artist Jewel on a duet of "Foolish Games", which was included on her first compilation, Greatest Hits (2013). On January 21, 2013, Clarkson performed "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at the second inauguration of United States President Barack Obama. On February 2013, she performed "Tennessee Waltz" and "Natural Woman" at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards as a tribute to Patti Page and an homage to Carole King.

In April 2013, Clarkson revealed that she was in the midst of recording her first Christmas album, titled Wrapped in Red, and later announced its release date as October 29, 2013. She also released a non-album single, "Tie It Up", exclusively to country music stations in June 2013. While on the 12th Annual Honda Civic Tour, Clarkson revealed that "Tie It Up" is actually the lead single from her seventh studio album, which will mostly consist of country songs. In September 2013, it was announced that Clarkson collaborated with singer Robbie Williams on the song "Little Green Apples" for his album Swings Both Ways.

On November 7, Wrapped in Red debuted at the top of the Billboard Top Holiday Albums and at number 3 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. On December 5, 2013, Wrapped in Red was certified platinum by the RIAA, eventually becoming the best-selling Christmas album of the year and making her the first American female artist to achieve this feat. However, the single Underneath the Tree did not fare as well, and despite predictions from music critics that it would become a hit, the single entered the Hot 100 at number 78. According to Mediabase, Clarkson was ranked 9th place of top artists on the Hot AC 2013 Year-End Chart. On December 11, her first Christmas special debut, Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale, garnered over 5.3 million viewers. On December 26, 2013, Clarkson announced that she recorded a song with Martina McBride, which will be featured on McBride's album Everlasting. Later, it was revealed that the song is "In the Basement", originally by Etta James and Sugar Pie DeSanto.

2014–present: Piece by Piece

On January 31, 2014, Clarkson revealed on Twitter that she had begun to prepare new songs for her next album and that the recording would start "soon". In September 2014, Clarkson revealed that the album would be released in early 2015. On January 7, 2015, Clarkson revealed that the first single from the album would be, "Heartbeat Song." It was released on January 12, 2015. The song has since charted at a peak position of 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her sixteenth Top 40 on the chart. During an interview on Elvis Duran and the Morning Show, she confirmed the title of the album to be Piece by Piece. The album was released on March 3, 2015. On January 29, 2015, Clarkson revealed the album's partial track listing, which included "Take You High," "Someone," and "Invincible". She also shared partial lyrics to those songs. In an interview with Time, Clarkson confirmed that Piece by Piece is her last contractually obligated pop album. She stated: "I had a pop record left on my contract, so we decided to put this one out first." She also confirmed she was still working on her first country music album, stating, "I’ve actually been creating both albums, a country one and this one at the same time. I’ve been working on both projects simultaneously. I’m both people. I have everything on my iPad from country to R&B to pop to rock. I listen to classical as well. [...] But I will have a country album that will come out." Piece by Piece debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Chart, becoming her third number one album and her first since All I Ever Wanted (2009).

In April 2015, Clarkson mentored the Top 8 on the fourteenth season of American Idol for the "Evening with Kelly Clarkson" week. On May 17, 2015, Clarkson appeared at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards, performing "Invincible". "Invincible" was released on May 18, 2015 and its music video was released on May 29, 2015.

Artistry

Voice

Clarkson possesses the vocal range of a spinto soprano, spanning from E♭3 – G6, which has been described as dynamic, robust and emotive. Clarkson has also been noted for her vocal versatility and technically skilled delivery, in reviewing a live performance of Clarkson's Jon Caramanica of The New York Times stated she "showed off a voice that moved in all sorts of ways, without ever appearing to strain" continuing "Ms. Clarkson, who has a malleable voice and a boatload of vocal confidence, might be a soul siren in the making". However, in a separate review of Stronger Caramanica stated that Clarkson's voice is "too huge, too violent" for warmer and sweeter vocal stylings, stating "she's on a par with Taylor Swift when it comes to vengeance, and she'll do it louder and with more brutality in comparison to her contemporary." In a live review as part of her Stronger Tour, Sophie Sinclair of Hit The Floor claimed "Kelly's strong and powerful voice was flawless throughout the night and some may even say she sounds better live then she does on her albums".

"Sometimes, I can't listen to [my] really old school songs ... because they just use so much autotune when it's not needed that it kills me. I can't listen to it, What I love about that though is on songs like 'Miss Independent,' not only was it autotune, I just sounded different, I sounded so young."

—Clarkson on her experiences of using autotune on previous material, stating her now dislike of the practice in an interview with CNN.

Regarding the quality of Clarkson's voice Arion Berger of Rolling Stone commented that "her high notes are sweet and pillowy, her growl is bone-shaking and sexy, and her midrange is amazingly confident for a pop posy whose career is tied for eternity to the whims of her American Idol overlords." Dr. Luke, a songwriter and producer of some of Clarkson's hits, stated that "She has powerful lungs. She's like the Lance Armstrong of vocal cords." In an interview with Good Morning America, Simon Cowell was asked of the then six American Idol winners, who he thought had the best voice. Cowell immediately answered that Clarkson did "by a mile", noting that she was "up there" with other great singers such as Celine Dion. Esquire wrote that Clarkson has "the best voice in the history of pop music". Reviewing Stronger, Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone states, Clarkson has, "One of music's most remarkable voices." Regarding the controversial practice of lip-syncing, Clarkson claims that she never has, and never will lip-sync, elaborating in an interview with Cory Myers; "I've actually never done that. Because I'm terrified, if I ever did that, something horrible would happen, the track would skip… I have a really unhealthy fear about it. So no, I've never done that".

Influences

Clarkson has often cited soul musicians such as Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera and Etta James and rock musicians Radiohead, Garbage, Aerosmith, and Jimi Hendrix as her influences. She has also listed Reba McEntire, Bette Midler, and Rosemary Clooney. Her audition performance of James' song "At Last" and her final performance of Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" on American Idol garnered critical praise from both the judges of the program and the public. Clarkson also said that she has been influenced by Tina Turner and Annie Lennox. At age eight, Clarkson was first inspired to venture into music during visit to an African-American church in Fort Worth. She recalled: "I was like, 'Wow, whatever they're feeling, I want to feel it too'."

Personal life

Family

Clarkson began dating talent manager Brandon Blackstock in February 2012. Blackstock is singer Reba McEntire's stepson through her marriage to Narvel Blackstock, who is Clarkson's manager. In a May 2012 interview, Clarkson told the Daily Mail, "Brandon is my manager's son. I've known him for six years, but he was married. Then, suddenly, there he was at the Super Bowl and he was single." Clarkson and Blackstock became engaged in December 2012, and married on October 20, 2013, at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee. Upon her marriage, Clarkson became a stepmother to Blackstock's son and daughter from his previous marriage. Their first child, a daughter named River Rose Blackstock, was born on June 12, 2014. In August 2015, during her concert in Los Angeles, Clarkson announced that she is pregnant with her second child.

Political views

On December 29, 2011, Clarkson posted on Twitter that she would vote for US Congressman Ron Paul as a 2012 presidential candidate, saying, "I love Ron Paul. I liked him a lot during the last Republican nomination and no one gave him a chance. If he wins the nomination for the Republican Party in 2012 he's got my vote. Too bad he probably won't." After stating her support for Paul, she came under fire on Twitter, due to the controversy over racist and homophobic newsletters that were sent out under Paul's name in the 1980s. She later apologized for the tweet, saying she did not intend to offend anyone. In 2012, Clarkson stated she would, again, vote for President Barack Obama. Clarkson stated, "I can't support Romney's policies as I have a lot of gay friends and I don't think it's fair they can't get married." She also cited women's rights issues by saying, "I'm not a hardcore feminist, but we can't be going back to the '50s."

Philanthropy

In April 2007 Clarkson took part in "Idol Gives Back", a fundraiser for people in poverty in both Africa and the United States, performing "Up to the Mountain" along with Jeff Beck. She would also perform a five-song set later that year on the American leg of Live Earth concerts opting for environmental awareness about climate change. She is currently an ambassador of "March of Dimes", raising money regularly and assisting in volunteer service, having walked for "March for Babies", for the cause of improvement of the health of mothers and babies. Clarkson, additionally, got involved in the organization "Houses of Hope", who take care and build orphanages for children in South Africa who have been affected by HIV/AIDS, abuse and poverty. She has visited those children and also participated in "A Night for Hope" fund-raiser concert (held by Clarkson's background vocal singers, Jill and Kate), where she performed a song she wrote after her trip to South Africa, "You Still Won't Know What It's Like". Clarkson also supports the charities Save the Children, UNICEF, "Do Something" and "STOMP Out Bullying" and music causes like the Save the Music Foundation. She has a ranch in Texas for unwanted animals, which includes amputee goats, blind dogs, and horses with colic; there are more than 80 animals at the sanctuary. She helps provide veterinary care for them and finds them an adoptive family. Clarkson performed in a benefit concert on March 1, 2013, supporting the Omaha based Opportunity Education Foundation, an organization that provides access to education for children around the world, stating "Education was a key part of my childhood, and I am better for it. Anything for education I am really into and especially for kids. A lot of people don't have computers, and they can't afford them. Without education, you get far behind. As long as they have a chance, you know, I think that's important. I want every kid to have a chance.". In 2013, Clarkson teamed up with State Farm Insurance to support teen safe driving as a part of Celebrate My Drive program. In 2013, Clarkson supported Feeding America, The Ad Council and their Child Hunger PSA Campaign, which provides food for children facing hunger. Also in 2013, Clarkson participated in Green Mountain Coffee's Great Coffee, Good Vibes, Choose Fair Trade campaign by traveling to coffee farms in Peru to draw attention to the importance of being Fair Trade Certified. In December 2013, Citizen Watch Co. announced that Clarkson is their newest Brand Ambassador.

Jane Austen

In 2013, Clarkson purchased a turquoise and gold ring that had belonged to the British novelist Jane Austen. Clarkson paid £152,450 ($231,227) for the ring at auction house Sothebys, against a reserve price of £30,000. Clarkson is a fan of Austen's work and also bought a first edition of Austen's 1816 novel Persuasion. The ring is one of only three surviving pieces of jewelry known to have belonged to the author, and had remained in her family until the sale. The British government placed an export ban on the ring owing to its historic importance, describing it as a "national treasure". Jane Austen's House Museum in Chawton, Hampshire, eventually raised the money with the aid of an anonymous donor, to buy the ring by the export deadline. It was placed on display at the museum in February 2014.

Clarkson had intended to wear the ring as her engagement ring. Clarkson's then-fiancé (now husband), Brandon Blackstock, commissioned a replica of the ring for her, which she has been seen wearing on many occasions, most notably during the 2013 Grammy Awards and the Second inauguration of Barack Obama.

Other ventures

In April 2015, Clarkson debuted a line of greeting cards that she created with American Greetings. About the line Clarkson said, "We designed them with of my fans in mind: it's a little of my voice and personality, but the real point is to share sweet experiences and important times in your life with your friends and family." The line includes a variety of cards, an illustrated version of Clarkson, and two custom versions of Clarkson singing "Happy Birthday". The cards are sold exclusively at Walmart.

Discography

Main article: Kelly Clarkson discography

• Thankful (2003)
• Breakaway (2004)
• My December (2007)
• All I Ever Wanted (2009)
• Stronger (2011)
• Wrapped in Red (2013)
• Piece by Piece (2015)

Tours

Main articles: List of Kelly Clarkson concert tours and List of Kelly Clarkson promotional tours

Headlining

• Breakaway World Tour (2005–06)
• Hazel Eyes Tour (2005)
• Addicted Tour (2006)
• My December Tour (2007–08)
• All I Ever Wanted Tour (2009–10)
• Stronger Tour (2012)
• Piece by Piece Tour (2015)

Co-headlining

• American Idols LIVE! Tour 2002 (2002) (with the American Idol season one finalists)
• Independent Tour (2004) (with Clay Aiken)
• 2 Worlds 2 Voices Tour (2008) with Reba McEntire)
• Kelly Clarkson / The Fray Tour (2012) (with The Fray)
• 12th Annual Honda Civic Tour (2013) (with Maroon 5)

Promotional

• Kelly Clarkson in Concert (2003)
• Kelly Clarkson: Live in Concert (2009)

Filmography

Film and television roles

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source
2002	Sabrina the Teenage Witch	Extra	Episode: "The Whole Ball of Wax" (uncredited)
	That '80s Show	Extra	Episode: "Valentine's Day" (uncredited)
	MADtv	Herself	Episode 8.1
2003	From Justin to Kelly	Kelly Taylor	Leading role
2003 2004	American Dreams	Brenda Lee	Episodes: "And Promises To Keep" "Tidings of Comfort and Joy"
2004	King of the Hill	Herself	Episode: "Stressed for Success" (voice)
2005 2009 2012	Saturday Night Live	Herself / various roles	Episodes: "Jason Bateman/Kelly Clarkson" "Tracy Morgan/Kelly Clarkson" "Charles Barkley/Kelly Clarkson"
2005	Damage Control	Herself	Episode: "Damage Control"
2007	Reba	Kelly	Episode: "As We Forgive Those"
2011	Phineas and Ferb	Herself	Episode: "A Phineas and Ferb Family Christmas" (voice)
2012	Duets	Herself (judge/mentor)	9 episodes
	Blake Shelton's Not So Family Christmas	Herself	TV Christmas special
2013	Who Do You Think You Are?	Herself	Documentary series; season 4, episode 1
	The Crazy Ones	Herself	Episode: "Pilot"
	Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale	Herself	TV Christmas special
2014	Nashville	Herself	Episode: "I'll Keep Climbing"

Awards

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Kelly Clarkson

See also

• List of best-charting music artists in the U.S.
• List of Idol winners

Further reading

• Phares, Heather. "Kelly – Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved February 11, 2006.
• Lamb, Bill. "Kelly Clarkson – Profile". About.com. Retrieved February 11, 2006.
• Phares, Heather. "Kelly Clarkson – Biography". Yahoo LAUNCHcast. Retrieved February 11, 2006.
• International charting information. Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved February 12, 2006.
• Kelly Gets Cocky. Idol winner fires Simon Fuller. PopSugar.com. Blog Archives. Retrieved February 25, 2006.
• "Review – From Justin to Kelly". Archived from the original on October 12, 2007.. E! Online. [Some films defy criticism.] Retrieved May 4, 2006.
• Croatto, Pete. From Justin to Kelly. [Watching From Justin to Kelly, one question looms over the entire production: Why was this movie made?] Retrieved May 4, 2006.

External links

• Official website
• Kelly Clarkson at AllMusic
• Kelly Clarkson at AllMovie
• Kelly Clarkson at IMDb
• Kelly Clarkson discography at Discogs
• Kelly Clarkson collected news and commentary at The New York Times
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