Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter and occasional actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and later was the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003. Two weeks after Clarkson was crowned the American Idol, her first single, A Moment Like This (2002), was released and broke The Beatles' record for the biggest leap to number one, from 52, in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2003, Clarkson released her debut album, Thankful, which entered the Billboard 200 at number one. Its first single, Miss Independent, received a nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the 46th Grammy Awards. The album was a commercial success and has sold 4.5 million copies worldwide. After the Independent Tour, Clarkson developed a more rock-oriented sound with the release of her critically acclaimed sophomore album, Breakaway (2004), which sold more than 12 million copies worldwide which garnered Clarkson further global recognition as a pop rock artist. The album's fourth single, Because of You (2005), became the best-selling single by an Idol contestant worldwide. Because of You was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for the 50th Grammy Awards. In 2006, Clarkson received a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album and another for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for its hit single Since U Been Gone at the 48th Grammy Awards. After parting with her management, Clarkson took full creative control and executively produced her third album My December (2007) alongside Jeff Kwatinetz, which was met with controversy within her label. In spite of little promotion, My December has been certified platinum in the United States and Canada, and has sold 3 million copies worldwide. Clarkson later returned to a more pop-oriented sound with All I Ever Wanted (2009) while co-writing half the record, which became a commercial and critical success. The album's lead single, My Life Would Suck Without You (2009), topped the charts in the United Kingdom and the United States by surpassing A Moment Like This' record for the biggest leap to number one on a single week in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, a record it still holds today. Clarkson's fifth studio album, Stronger, was released in 2011, containing elements from dance-pop, Ramp;B and country-pop. The album's lead single, Mr. Know It All is widely regarded as a sleeper hit, which eventually became her ninth top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It's second single, Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) (2012), became her most commercially successful single in over twenty countries, including the United Kingdom. Selling over 3.6 million copies, Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) is now the best-selling single by an Idol alumnus in the United States. Aside from being renowned for her title as the Original American Idol, Clarkson is also widely known for her powerhouse voice, vocal versatility and heroine image. Her music has mainly dealt with themes of heartbreak, independence, and self-empowerment for women and young teens. Apart for her work in music, Clarkson also ventured to television and film. Clarkson's film debut in the romantic musical From Justin to Kelly (2003) was met with mediocre success. She appeared in various television series such as American Dreams and Reba, and became a guest mentor on The Voice. In a career spanning a decade, Clarkson has become the most successful Idol contestant internationally with album sales of over 23 million and singles sales of over 36 million worldwide, according to Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan. Clarkson's music work also gained her numerous accolades, including two Grammy Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards and a Women's World Award. Billboard also ranked Clarkson as the 14th best-selling artist of the 2000s, as well as also being ranked on the top 200 album sellers of the Nielsen SoundScan era at number 187. In 2012, she was a mentor and judge on the TV series Duets.