Kelly Clarkson Biography

Kelly was the youngest of three children and was the only child to remain in her mother’s custody following a failed seventeen year marriage. Kelly and her mother moved several times while living in Texas and her mother spent long hours trying to make ends meet.

Kelly had no plans to pursue music until a teacher discovered her singing and encouraged her to try out for the school choir. That simple encouragement would change the course of her life beginning with the choir and ending up with an album certified five-times platinum.

Following graduation in 2000, Kelly Clarkson made her way to Hollywood seeking what became a rather elusive dream. She landed a few bit parts in film roles, but a promised music mentoring offer fell through. In four months Kelly was on her way back to Texas.

While she resettled in Burleson, Texas she took whatever jobs she could find. Kelly even took a position with a telemarketing firm for a brief period of time.

By 2002, she was encouraged by friends to try out for the inaugural season of American Idol. Her pop sensibilities connected with judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson as well as American audiences. As each week passed, Kelly’s confidence grew and her persistence and patience paid off when she became the first contestant to ever be named an American Idol.

Perhaps because of her limited experience in acting, a movie was developed quickly to capitalize on her newfound fame. Kelly completed a film called From Justin to Kelly which was panned by critics as well as movie goers when it made it to the big screen in 2003.

Her first single and album, however, garnered tremendous success. Kelly’s first single A Moment Like This debuted at number 52 and rose to the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart the following week. Her debut album Thankful would debut in the number one spot as the success of her America Idol experience reached epidemic proportions.

Subsequent singles from her debut project were less successful and it seemed the population at large had cooled to the novelty of American Idol Kelly Clarkson. However, this young lady learned much about resilience from her years growing up in less than ideal conditions in Texas. She willingly reinvented herself. Kelly’s second album Breakaway was a stylistic departure for Clarkson that would change the course of her career. The only problem was no one was sure what direction this new sound would take her.

During those first few weeks the sales of the new project were lackluster at best, but as singles were released from the project fans began to connect with the rock edge that was now a part of Kelly’s music. Not all critics were impressed with this move, but as five singles made their way into the top twenty it was clear that the change was connecting with her audience.

Kelly would collect two Grammy Awards for ‘Best Female Pop Vocal Performance’ for Since U Been Gone and ‘Best Pop Vocal Album’ for Breakaway.

The current Addicted tour promises fans a taste of music from a new album planned for either late 2006 or in early 2007.

Kelly’s success has gone a long way in encouraging others to accept the opportunity to pursue their dreams in spite of the odds. Sometimes you win, sometimes you just find yourself concentrating on the wrong dream.