- Pop Rock singer born in 1982 in Fort Worth Texas.
- She sang in middle and high school, where she was encouraged by others to develop her talent and to consider a career in music. She started classical training, hoping that she would earn a college scholarship. After graduating from high school, she was offered full scholarships to 3 colleges, but she declined them, hoping to break into music immediately.
- She made a demo and received recording contract offers from 2 record labels, but she turned them down, fearing that they would turn her into ‘a bubblegum act.” In 2001, she moved to Los Angeles to try to get a break. She was an extra in a few TV series, and she recorded another demo, but record labels were not interested because she sounded “too black,” according to Clarkson. She returned to Texas and worked at odd jobs.
- In 2002, she was encouraged by friends to audition for the inaugural season of American Idol. Her first appearance was on the second episode, and on September 4, she won the competition. She immediately signed a record deal, and 13 days after winning, her debut single was released, the double-A-side Before Your Love/A Moment Like This. It peaked at #1, and became the best selling single of the year.
- Her debut album, Thankful, was released in April 2003. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and has sold 2.8 million copies in the U.S. The single Miss Independent peaked at #9 – one of 11 songs that have reached the top 10 on the Hot 100 chart.
- By 2004, she wanted to move away from her American Idol image, and she hired new management. Her second album, Breakaway, showed more of a rock sound. It became her most successful album, selling over 6 million copies. Three singles sold over 1 million copies – Since U Been Gone, Behind These Hazel Eyes, and Because of You. She won 2 Grammy awards – Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
- Her next 4 albums all sold over a million copies and landed in the top 3 on the album chart. Two songs made it to #1 – My Life Would Suck Without You and Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You). The album Stronger won Clarkson her third Grammy award.
- In 2010, Clarkson recorded a country duet with Jason Aldean – Don’t You Wanna Stay. It became her first #1 on the Country chart, and at the time was the best selling country collaboration in history.
- In 2015, she released Piece By Piece, her seventh album. It was the final album required by her contract that she signed when she won American Idol in 2002 – the first Idol artist make it through an entire contract commitment. She has signed with another record company, and her first album with the new label – called Meaning of Life – is due to be released on October 27 this year. Two singles have already been released – Love So Soft and Move You. You will hear a lot of soul on this album.
- She has written 2 children’s books, featuring a character named River Rose. The second book was just published on October 24.
- She will be a judge on the next season of The Voice, Season 14.
- Her story is pretty amazing. You watch her on American Idol and realize that she was just a kid with very little vocal training and yet she has this incredible singing voice. What a super talent! My favorite is Catch My Breath – listen to her belt it out in this pop anthem!