Kelly Clarkson Biography
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As a child growing up in Burleson, Texas, singing was far from her choice career. Kelly wanted to become a marine biologist. Lucky for the rest of the world, she quickly changed her mind upon seeing “Jaws,” because it was only a matter of time before her true talent and passion were unveiled for the rest of the world to see.
Clarkson has released four albums to date: her double-platinum debut album Thankful (2003), her multi-platinum second album Breakaway (2004) (which has won two Grammy Awards), My December (2007), and her latest album All I Ever Wanted (2009). Her albums have sold over 10.5 million copies in the United States. Clarkson is currently the only American Idol contestant to have reached number one in the UK. She claimed number one on March 1, 2009, when “My Life Would Suck Without You” debuted number one on downloads alone.
She has sold over 10.2 million albums in the United States, and over 20 million albums worldwide, becoming the highest-selling Idol winner. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Clarkson is also ranked on the top 200 album sellers of the Nielsen SoundScan era at number 187.
Eleven of Clarkson’s singles became Top Twenty hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Her single, “My Life Would Suck Without You”, advanced from No. 97 to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in its first week of release, breaking the record for the largest leap to the top position in chart history.
Clarkson has toured extensively worldwide as a solo act. After Clarkson’s appearance on the CMT Crossroads and her duet version of “Because of You” (2007) with Reba McEntire, they co-headlined the 2 Worlds 2 Voices Tour (2008).
Clarkson held the distinction of having the highest-selling American Idol album in the United States until November 2009, when Carrie Underwood claimed that title by a narrow margin of 100,000 albums. Clarkson, however, remains the highest-selling American Idol alum overall, with around 23 million albums sold worldwide. In May 2010, Billboard named Clarkson the “most successful ‘American Idol’ of all time”, factoring in album sales, singles sales, and radio plays.
Kelly’s innate singing ability was first discovered in 7th grade after her junior high choral director heard her singing in the school hallway and encouraged her to sign up for the school choir. Up until that point, Kelly was considering joining the band!
Kelly immersed herself in choral activities throughout high school, starring in musicals (“Brigadoon”), performing overseas, and earning top honors as a member of the Texas All-State Choir.
Upon graduation, Kelly solidified her committment to music, working numerous jobs to finance her demo CD and market herself to record labels. Frustrated with the lack of results and unopened mail, she made her way to Los Angeles along with a friend, hoping for the best.
While in L.A., she found odd jobs to help make ends meet and wound up getting a role as an extra on Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
After answering a newspaper ad, she coincidentally hooked up with famed songwriter Gerry Goffin ((“You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman”) through a mutual friend and began recording vocal demos of his songs. Little did Kelly know that the same song Goffin was famous for, would later provide her with a moment of clarity as she worked to achieve her dream.
Kelly’s stay in Los Angeles was tragically cut short after Goffin grew ill, her apartment burned down, and her car got towed. Both emotionally and financially, Kelly was drained.
She turned home to recuperate and re-energize herself before heading back to L.A. Shortly thereafter, her best friend, Jessica, presented her with paperwork for American Idol, FOX Television’s national talent search competition/television show.
Already jaded from an earlier stint on the WB’s Popstars, Kelly was semi-reluctant, but signed the paperwork and went to the audition, hoping for the best.
Before you could say “You’re going to Hollywood,” Kelly was there.
After dozens of auditions, she found herself centerstage, among the top 30 contestants, and live on national television.
Belting out an energized rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” she captured the hearts (and votes) of people from all over the United States and advanced to the top 10 finals.
Week after week, Kelly quietly gained ground, rising above the competition, enduring a whirlwind promotional calendar, in addition to the responsibility of preparing live performances every week.
She was later provided with moment of clarity toward the middle of the competition.
When asked what the greatest thing to come out of the American Idol experience was, Kelly said, “the best moment for me was when I realized that I actually really wanted this. This is a public life now, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do that part of it…The defining point was during my performance of “Natural Woman.” I was on stage and the crowd was just going crazy, and I was like, I think I can do this.”
It may have took Kelly a while to realize that she could handle it, but the American public showed no hesitation in casting their votes and naming Kelly Clarkson their American Idol on September 4, 2002.
Moments later, she took to the stage for an emotional performance of her first single, “A Moment Like This,” capping off the competition and reminding millions of viewers why they tuned into the show week after week–to watch people’s dreams come true: “Oh I can’t believe it’s happening to me/Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.”
On October 5th, 2002, “A Moment Like This,” shot straight from No. 52 to No. 1 on the Billboard charts, eclipsing the 38-year record of “biggest leap to No. 1,” previously held by the Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love,” which went from No. 27 to No. 1 in 1964.
Her full-length solo debut is slated for March 4, 2003, and already, Kelly is attracting famed songwriters and producers like Diane Warren and the team of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey). Kelly also has a desire to showcase her songwriting skills on her solo album as well.
Clarkson’s fourth album, All I Ever Wanted, was released March 10, 2009. During recording of the album, Clarkson worked closely with producer-songwriters Ryan Tedder, Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Howard Benson, among others. The album’s recording was completed on October 23, 2008. The first single off the album, “My Life Would Suck Without You”, was sent to radio on January 13, 2009, and was available to download thereafter. The single first entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #97.
The following week, the single shot to #1, breaking the record of largest leap to the top spot, formerly held by Britney Spears’ “Womanizer” This marks the second time Clarkson has broken the record, her first being the American Idol victory ballad “A Moment Like This”, which shot from #52 to #1 in 2002. In March 2009, Clarkson reached #1 in the UK singles chart with “My Life Would Suck Without You”, and became Clarkson’s first UK #1 single. In its first week of sales, it moved 255,000 copies in the USA, and debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200. The album sold 90,000 copies in its second week and remained at #1.
The album’s second single is “I Do Not Hook Up.” It was sent to U.S. Radio on April 14. It debuted in the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 at #20, entered the Billboard Hot 100 charts at #88, and has climbed to #20. In July 2009, “Already Gone”, which already charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian Hot 100 at #70 early in 2009, was confirmed as the album’s third single. The music video for the song premiered that month and the 32 date tour for North America was announced as well. The single drop date for North America was announced for August 11, 2009. “Already Gone” has peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Clarkson performed as one of many guests for the return of VH1 Divas on September 17, 2009.
Kelly began her ‘All I Ever Wanted tour’ on October 2, 2009, following a string of summer concerts around the US. Her international leg sees her take the concert to a variety of different markets, including places such as South Africa, Indonesia and New Zealand. Her Indonesia show was initially sponsored by tobacco company Djarum, but after complaints from some fans and anti-tobacco groups, the promoter removed the sponsor. The tour ends on May 8 in Macau, China.
Clarkson gave an interview on MTV.com saying that she is currently writing songs for her fifth studio album, and hopes for a late 2010 release. Clarkson’s album received a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Pop Vocal Album”.
Clarkson landed in the Top 8 of Billboard Magazine’s Top Female Artists of 2009 and also landed in Top 9 of Billboard Magazine’s Top Hot Artists of 2000s. As well as the Top 2 on Billboard Magazine’s Best of 2000s, Pop Song Artist, behind Pink. Clarkson released “All I Ever Wanted” as her 4th single off the album of the same name.
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