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Kelly Clarkson

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File:Kelly Clarkson 01.jpg
Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982 in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American singer who won the first season of American Idol, and has since gone on to have a very successful recording career.

Early life

File:Kelly Clarkson 02.jpg
Kelly Clarkson

Clarkson was born in Fort Worth, Texas to parents of Greek, Irish, and German descent. Her parents divorced when she was only six years old, and her brother went to live with their dad, her sister with their aunt, and Kelly with her mom. She moved to Burleson, Texas after 4th 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) 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 managed some odd jobs. She worked as a cocktail waitress, a promo girl for Red Bull, at a movie theater (where the premiere of her movie, From Justin to Kelly, was later held), in a pharmacy, at Chili's, the Fort Worth Zoo, as a telemarketer, as a door-to-door sales agent for Kirby vacuum cleaners for a day, and other jobs as well.

American Idol

Clarkson performing in Idol

In 2002, along with ten thousand others, Clarkson auditioned for American Idol. Impressed by her voice and personality, the panel of judges put her through to the next round. Upon landing a final thirty spot, Kelly garnered praise from the judges with 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, with impressive performances of songs such as Franklin's "A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)" and Bette Midler's "Stuff Like That There".

On September 4, 2002, Clarkson won the competition, earning 56% of the audience vote in the final contest against Justin Guarini, who had earlier garnered the number one spot in her group. As the newly crowned "American Idol", Clarkson performed the inspirational ballad "A Moment Like This" as confetti fell. Her fellow contestants hugged her.

Clarkson was one of only three contestants in American Idol history who succeeded in staying out of the "bottom three" places in weekly voting results, along with Clay Aiken of season two and Carrie Underwood of season four. Of them, Clarkson and Underwood went on to win the competition.

Post-Idol career begins

File:Kelly Clarkson Thankful.jpg
Thankful (April 15, 2003)

Clarkson's first single set an American record, rising on October 5, 2002 from number fifty-two to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (a record previously held by The Beatles with "Can't Buy Me Love"). "A Moment Like This" eventually sold in excess of 500,000 copies.

Her first full-length album, Thankful, was released by RCA Records on April 15, 2003, and was certified as "double platinum" by the RIAA, signifying over two million copies shipped in the United States. Thankful also garnered good reviews, though critics cited that much of her success could be accredited to the "commerciality" of her music.

Clarkson starred with fellow American Idol contestant Justin Guarini in From Justin to Kelly (2003). The film was given weak reviews, was a box office disaster, and made it onto some critics' lists as being one of the worst movies ever made. It was also revealed by the two stars that participation in the filming of From Justin to Kelly was based on contractual obligations with American Idol producers and affiliated media partners.

In 2004, Kelly received a Grammy Nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her edgy Top 10 hit single "Miss Independent" (co-written by Christina Aguilera).

The third single, "Low", didn't fare as well, peaking at number fifty-eight in the United States. However, it reached number two in Canada, receiving widespread airplay and videoplay, and becoming one of the biggest-selling singles of 2003.

In the first World Idol competition, pitting all the winners of all Idol shows against each other, she placed second, beaten in the worldwide poll by the Norwegian Idol Kurt Nilsen.

Kelly Clarkson also embarked on the 30-city Independent Tour with fellow American Idol contestant Clay Aiken in 2004.

Career independence established

Breakaway (November 30, 2004)

On November 30, 2004, RCA Records released Kelly's second album Breakaway. Entering the Billboard album chart at number three, Breakaway received praise from critics, who noted its harder, more rock-flavored edge, one that invited comparisons to Avril Lavigne. The album has also been characterized by Clarkson herself as being in the pop rock genre.

Kelly took a more hands-on approach to creating Breakaway, co-writing six of the eleven tracks in the process. Producers and fellow artists also helped Clarkson craft the album, some of which include Max Martin ("Since U Been Gone", "Behind These Hazel Eyes"), Avril Lavigne ("Breakaway"), and former Evanescence band members Ben Moody & David Hodges ("Because of You", "Addicted").

Clarkson's first three singles, the uplifting "Breakaway", the vindicatory "Since U Been Gone", and the anguished "Behind These Hazel Eyes", all garnered widespread airplay in several different radio formats and made it well into the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number six, number two, and number six respectively. The fourth single, "Because Of You" entered the Hot 100 at number ninety-nine in the September 3, 2005 issue.

Industry experts noted that Clarkson had avoided the "sophomore slump", and that the artistic and commercial success of the album and its singles cemented Clarkson's place in the pop music industry, separate from the American Idol machine. Breakaway has proved to have staying power. After almost nine months of release, it still hangs around the top 10 albums, selling anywhere from 50,000 to 65,000 copies a week.

While Clarkson has not attempted any film roles since From Justin to Kelly, she has appeared on NBC's American Dreams as Brenda Lee, and in 2005 was musical guest on Saturday Night Live and performed in two sketches as well. Kelly was also named by Teen People Magazine as one of the Hottest 25 Stars under 25.

As of July 2005, Clarkson is the top-selling American Idol contestant, having sold approximately five million albums in the U.S. and having had five Top 10 singles. Breakaway has so far sold over 2.9 million copies domestically (certified triple-platinum by the RIAA on July 21, 2005).

On August 16, Clarkson took home awards for Best Female Artist, Best Album for Breakaway, Best Single for "Since U Been Gone", and Best Summer Single for "Behind These Hazel Eyes" at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards, demonstrating her dominance of pop music in 2005.

On August 28 at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Kelly walked away with two moonmen for "Since U Been Gone" in the Best Female Video and Best Pop Video categories. She also gave the final performance of the night in a downpour of rain, paying homage to the 2005 VMA's "water" theme.

Discography

Studio albums

  • 2003: Thankful — #1 US (2x Platinum), US Sales: 2.2 million
  • 2004: Breakaway — #3 US (3x Platinum), US Sales: 2.9 million; #6 CAN (2x Platinum); #10 UK; #2 Australia (2x Platinum)

Singles

File:Kelly Clarkson - A Moment Like This CD cover.jpg
"A Moment Like This"


File:Behind These Hazel Eyes.jpg
"Behind These Hazel Eyes"





Videography

from Thankful

Date Video Director Notes
Sep 2002 Before Your Love Antti J Kelly's first official video post-American Idol, originally featured and world premiered on MTV's Making The Video.
Oct 2002 A Moment Like This Antti J
May 2003 Miss Independent Liz Friedlander Nominated for Best New Artist in a Video, Best Pop Video, and Viewer's Choice at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards.
Aug 2003 Low Antti J
Nov 2003 The Trouble With Love Is Bryan Barber Soundtrack video for Love Actually


from Breakaway

Date Video Director Notes
Jul 2004 Breakaway Dave Meyers Soundtrack video for The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Nov 2004 Since U Been Gone Alex De Rakoff Won for Best Female Video and Best Pop Video at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards.
May 2005 Behind These Hazel Eyes Joseph Kahn Filmed in Ontario, Canada. All exterior forest scenes of Behind These Hazel Eyes were shot in one of the largest in-door sets ever built for a music video. Behind These Hazel Eyes also broke a record on TRL for having the most days at #1 by a solo artist.
Sep 2005 Because Of You Unconfirmed The video shoot for "BOY" is scheduled for mid-September in Irvine, California. Director Vadim Perelman (House of Sand and Fog), is rumored to direct the clip. No official confirmation has been made by RCA Records.

Filmography


Chart accomplishments

  • First solo artist to hold #1 positions on two US Billboard charts simultaneously with two different singles:
    • "Breakaway" — #1, Adult Contemporary
    • "Since U Been Gone" — #1, Top 40
  • First artist to have two songs in the top 3 of the Billboard Pop Airplay 100 simultaneously, with "Since U Been Gone" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes".
  • "Breakaway" has been #1 on the Adult Contemporary charts for 21 non-consecutive weeks, tied for the longest run for a female artist with Celine Dion and her song "A New Day Has Come".


Awards & Nominations

File:Kelly vma05.jpg
Kelly accepting her award for Best Female Video at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards

American Music Awards

  • 2003: Nominated - Best New Pop/Rock Artist


AOL Awards

  • 2005: Won - Best Musical Buddy
  • 2004: Won - Hottest Song (The Trouble With Love Is)


Billboard Music Awards

  • 2002: Won - Best Selling Single Of The Year (A Moment Like This)


Grammy Awards

  • 2004: Nominated - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (Miss Independent)


MTV Video Music Awards

  • 2005: Won - Best Female Video (Since U Been Gone)
  • 2005: Won - Best Pop Video (Since U Been Gone)
  • 2005: Nominated - Viewer's Choice Award (Since U Been Gone)
  • 2003: Nominated - Best New Artist In A Video (Miss Independent)
  • 2003: Nominated - Best Pop Video (Miss Independent)
  • 2003: Nominated - Viewer's Choice Award (Miss Independent)


Radio Music Awards

  • 2003: Nominated - Song Of The Year / Top 40 Radio (Miss Independent)
  • 2003: Nominated - Best Driving Song


Teen Choice Awards

  • 2005: Won - Choice Album (Breakaway)
  • 2005: Won - Choice Summer Song (Behind These Hazel Eyes)
  • 2005: Won - Choice Single (Since U Been Gone)
  • 2005: Won - Choice Female Artist
  • 2003: Won - Choice Female Music Artist
  • 2003: Nominated - Choice Summer Movie (From Justin To Kelly)
  • 2003: Nominated - Choice Summer Song (Miss Independent)
  • 2003: Nominated - Choice Crossover Artist
  • 2003: Nominated - Choice Breakout Artist
  • 2003: Nominated - Choice Breakout Movie Star, Female
  • 2003: Nominated - Choice Chemistry (From Justin To Kelly)
  • 2003: Nominated - Choice Love Song (A Moment Like This)


World Music Awards

  • 2003: Nominated - Best New Female Artist

Tours

File:Kelly Clarkson 1.jpg
Kelly Clarkson in concert.

* 2002: The American Idol Tour

    • 28-City U.S. Tour (October - November 2002)

* 2004: The Independent Tour, co-headlining with Clay Aiken

    • 30-City U.S. Tour (February - April 2004)
    • The final show in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 16, 2004, featured the acoustic performance of a new song entitled "Don't", written by Kelly and her band's lead guitarist Danny Weissfeld during the tour. "Don't" also became a part of the regular set list throughout the Breakaway tour, and is rumored to appear on Clarkson's third studio album.


* 2005: The Breakaway Spring Tour

    • 35-City U.S. / Canada Tour (March - May 2005)
    • The Breakaway Tour is Kelly's most successful to date, selling-out all venues in its 35-city stops.


* 2005: The Hazel Eyes Summer Tour

    • Dates are currently scheduled throughout the US and Canada, the 46-city tour will run from July 6, opening in Lubbock, TX and ending in New York, NY on October 11.
    • According to Ticketmaster, Kelly has added four new dates to her summer tour, making stops in Puyallup, WA, New Orleans, LA, Pensacola, FL, and New York, NY.
    • The July 17, Orlando, Florida concert was webcast live on AOL. A key thematic moment in her concerts is her rendition of Annie Lennox's 1992 hit, "Why", which she introduces as her favorite song. The 70-minute show features frequent sing-alongs from the audience and expressions of gratitude from Clarkson. There are rock arrangements to most songs, with an a cappella "Beautiful Disaster" and a two-acoustic guitar-only shambolic "Breakaway".
    • The Hazel Eyes Tour features a new song called "Come Here" which is, according to Kelly, "probably going to be on the next record".


  • In a June 2005 radio interview on Capital FM in London, Kelly mentioned that she will begin planning a world tour that will visit Austrailia, Asia, and Europe after wrapping up The Hazel Eyes Tour in the U.S.
Preceded by
None
 American Idol Winners
Season 1 (2002) 		Succeeded by
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