Kelly Brianne Clarkson, born on April 24, 1982, is an American pop and pop-rock singer, songwriter, and actress who skyrocketed to fame after winning the inaugural season of "American Idol" in 2002. She later represented the United States in the "World Idol" competition in 2003, where she finished as the runner-up.
Clarkson has released four albums under RCA Records to date: her double-platinum debut album "Thankful" (2003), her multi-platinum second album "Breakaway" (2004) which 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 alone. Notably, Clarkson is the only "American Idol" contestant to have reached number one in the UK. She achieved this milestone on March 1, 2009, when "My Life Would Suck Without You" debuted at number one based solely on downloads.
Eleven of Clarkson's singles have made it to the Top Twenty on the Billboard Hot 100. Her single "My Life Would Suck Without You" made a historic leap from No. 97 to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in its first week of release, setting a record for the biggest jump to the top spot in chart history.
Clarkson has toured extensively worldwide as a solo artist. She has also performed in various international versions of "American Idol," including Swedish, Canadian, and Australian Idol. After her appearance on CMT Crossroads and her duet of "Because of You" (2007) with Reba McEntire, they co-headlined the "2 Worlds 2 Voices Tour" in 2008. Billboard has named Clarkson the "most successful 'American Idol' of all time," considering album sales, single sales, and radio plays.
According to Nielsen SoundScan, Clarkson is the highest-selling Idol winner globally, with around 36 million singles and 23 million albums sold worldwide.
Clarkson won the first season of "American Idol" on September 4, 2002, securing 58% of the vote against runner-up Justin Guarini. Overcome with emotion, Clarkson performed the ballad "A Moment Like This," a song written for the winner of "American Idol," which later appeared on her debut album, "Thankful." When released as a single in October 2002, it set a record on the U.S. Billboard charts by jumping from number 52 to number one. This achievement was largely due to the impact of "Idol," as the single managed to sell 236,000 copies in its first week in the U.S. and spent five weeks at number one in Canada.
The third and fourth singles from her second album, "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and "Because of You," also achieved significant success. The music video for "Because of You" won the 2006 MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video, marking her second consecutive win in that category following "Since U Been Gone." Clarkson was the most-played artist on American radio in 2006, despite releasing only one single that year, "Walk Away" (the fifth single from "Breakaway"). She was also the most broadcasted artist of 2006 in Australia, and "Because of You" was the third most played song of the same year, despite being released in 2005.
For more information on Kelly Clarkson's achievements, you can visit Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan.
This article provides a comprehensive look at Kelly Clarkson's illustrious career, highlighting her achievements, chart-topping hits, and record-breaking sales. Clarkson's journey from "American Idol" winner to global superstar is a testament to her talent and enduring appeal.
