Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982)
[1] is an American singer, songwriter and actress. In 2002, she rose to fame after winning the
first season of
American Idol, and has since been established as "The Original American Idol."
[2][3][4] Her debut single, "
A Moment Like This", topped the US
Billboard Hot 100
and broke the record for the biggest jump to number one in the chart's
history; it became the best-selling single of the year in the country.
She became the runner-up of
World Idol the following year.
Clarkson's debut studio album,
Thankful (2003), has been certified 2× platinum and sold over 4.5 million copies internationally. Its lead single, "
Miss Independent," became an international hit, earning Clarkson her first
Grammy nomination. She developed a rock-oriented sound with the release of her second album,
Breakaway (2004). It has been certified 6× platinum and sold over 15 million copies worldwide,
[5] earning Clarkson two Grammy Awards, including one for the hit single "
Since U Been Gone." She later took full creative direction of her third album,
My December (2007), which has been certified platinum. Its lead single, "
Never Again," became a top ten hit. Clarkson's fourth album,
All I Ever Wanted (2009), debuted at number one, and became a critical and commercial success. Its worldwide hit single, "
My Life Would Suck Without You", surpassed "A Moment Like This" for the
biggest leap to number one on a
single week in the history of the
Billboard Hot 100 Chart from number 97, a record it still holds today. Her fifth album,
Stronger (2011), generated international chart-topping singles, "
Mr. Know It All" and "
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)." The latter is the best-selling single by an
American Idol alumni to date; it has sold over five million copies worldwide, making it one of the
best-selling singles of all time.
[6][7][8] The album won the Grammy Award for
Best Pop Vocal Album, making Clarkson the first and only artist to win the award twice.
[9][10]
