Kelly Clarkson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kelly Clarkson
Clarkson at the DoD Warrior Games opening ceremony in June 2018
Born	Kelly Brianne Clarkson (1982-04-24) April 24, 1982 (age 43) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Other names	Kelly Brianne
Occupation	Singer songwriter television personality author
Years active	2002–present
Spouse(s)	Brandon Blackstock ​ ​ (m. 2013; div. 2022)​
Children	2
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Pop R&B
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	RCA 19 S Atlantic
Signature

Kelly Brianne (born Kelly Brianne Clarkson, April 24, 1982), known as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, and TV star. She became famous as the first winner of American Idol. Kelly has had a long career in music and television. Many people say she changed how TV talent shows work. She is known for her powerful voice and for being able to sing many different styles of music. Magazines like Rolling Stone and Billboard have called her one of the greatest singers ever.

After winning American Idol in 2002, Kelly signed with RCA Records. Her first song, "A Moment Like This", quickly became a huge hit in the U.S. Her first album, Thankful (2003), mixed R&B and gospel sounds. It went straight to number one on the U.S. music charts. Kelly then changed her style to pop rock for her album Breakaway (2004). This album became one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century. Songs like "Since U Been Gone" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes" were big hits in the U.S. "Because of You" was a number one song in Europe.

After her album My December (2007), which had a darker rock sound, Kelly went back to pop rock. Her albums All I Ever Wanted (2009) and Stronger (2011) both had number one songs: "My Life Would ... Without You" and "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)". Kelly also made a Christmas album, Wrapped in Red (2013). It was the best-selling holiday album of that year. It included the popular song "Underneath the Tree". After her number one album Piece by Piece (2015), she signed with Atlantic Records. She released three more albums: Meaning of Life (2017), When Christmas Comes Around... (2021), and Chemistry (2023).

Kelly also became a coach on the TV show The Voice from 2018 to 2023. She has helped more winning contestants than any other female coach. Since 2019, she has hosted her own talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show. Kelly has sold over 28 million albums and 54 million songs worldwide. She has won many awards, including three Grammy Awards and eight Daytime Emmy Awards. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Billboard magazine named her the Top Female Artist of 2005. She was also ranked as the 11th most successful female artist of the 21st century.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Kelly Brianne Clarkson was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 24, 1982. Her mother was a first-grade teacher, and her father was an engineer. Kelly has an older brother and sister. Her parents divorced when she was six years old. Kelly stayed with her mother, while her brother and sister lived with other family members. Kelly's mother later married Jimmy Taylor. Kelly grew up in Burleson, Texas. She went to Pauline Hughes Middle School.

When she was in seventh grade, her choir teacher heard her singing in a hallway. The teacher asked Kelly to try out for the school choir. Kelly had never had singing lessons before. She graduated from Burleson High School in 2000. In high school, she performed in several musicals. Kelly started taking voice lessons. She hoped to get a college scholarship for music.

After high school, Kelly decided not to go to college, even though she was offered scholarships. She wanted to try to make her own music. She worked many jobs to pay for a demo, which is a recording of her songs. She tried to get record labels interested, but it was hard. In 2001, she moved to Los Angeles to try to start her music career. She appeared as an extra in some TV shows. After facing many challenges, Kelly returned to Burleson. There, her friends encouraged her to try out for a new TV show called American Idol.

Becoming a Star: American Idol and First Albums

Clarkson at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2002, after winning Idol.

In May 2002, Kelly auditioned for the very first season of American Idol: The Search for a Superstar. She made it through the auditions and went on to win the whole competition on September 4, 2002. She won with 58% of the votes!

Right after winning, Kelly signed a record deal. Her first song, "Before Your Love"/"A Moment Like This", was released soon after. These songs were performed by Kelly during the American Idol finale. The single quickly jumped to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It broke a record for the biggest jump to number one. It also became the best-selling song of 2002 in the U.S.

Kelly's first album, Thankful, came out on April 15, 2003. It had a mix of pop, R&B, and gospel music. The album was very successful, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Its first song, "Miss Independent", became her first international hit. It was nominated for a Grammy Award. Kelly also starred in a musical romantic comedy film called From Justin to Kelly in June 2003. She later said she had to do the movie because of her contract.

Breakaway and More Success

Clarkson during her Breakaway World Tour on November 15, 2005, in Canberra, Australia.

Kelly wanted to show a different side of her music. She decided to change her sound to be more rock-oriented for her second album, Breakaway. She helped write six of the songs on the album. Breakaway was released on November 30, 2004. It became Kelly's most successful album. It was the third-best-selling album of 2005 in the U.S. and sold over twelve million copies worldwide.

Five songs were released from Breakaway. The song "Breakaway" was first used in a Disney movie. It later became a top-ten hit. "Since U Been Gone" was a huge success, reaching number two on the Hot 100. "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and "Because of You" also became top-ten hits. "Because of You" was Kelly's biggest song around the world. It reached number one in many countries.

Breakaway helped Kelly win many awards. She won two Grammy Awards for "Since U Been Gone" and for the album itself. She also won Best Female Video at the MTV Video Music Awards two years in a row.

New Sounds and TV Shows

Kelly's third album, My December, came out in 2007. This album had darker themes and heavier rock music. Kelly wrote all the songs on this album. The album reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart. It sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. The main song from the album, "Never Again", was a top-ten hit.

Clarkson and Reba McEntire during the 2 Worlds 2 Voices Tour in 2008.

Kelly also worked with country music star Reba McEntire. They sang a country version of "Because of You" together. This song became a big hit on the country music charts. Kelly and Reba also went on tour together in 2008.

Kelly's fourth album, All I Ever Wanted, was released in 2009. She went back to a more pop sound for this album. It was a big success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart for two weeks. The first song from the album, "My Life Would ... Without You", became an international hit. It broke a record for the biggest jump to number one in one week on the Hot 100. It also reached number one in the UK, Canada, and Hungary.

Stronger and Greatest Hits

Clarkson performing in Sudbury, Canada, in 2011.

Kelly sang a country duet with Jason Aldean called "Don't You Wanna Stay" in 2010. It became her first number one song on the country charts. Kelly's fifth album, Stronger, came out in 2011. It had a mix of pop, rock, and country sounds. The album was very popular and won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. Kelly was the first artist to win this award twice!

The first song from Stronger, "Mr. Know It All", was a number one hit in Australia and South Korea. It also reached the top ten in the U.S. The second song, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", was a massive hit. It topped sixteen different Billboard charts and became her third number one on the Hot 100. It is still Kelly's best-selling song.

In 2012, Kelly became a mentor and judge on the TV show Duets. She also was a guest mentor on The Voice. To celebrate 10 years in music, Kelly released her first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits – Chapter One, in 2012. It included new songs like "Catch My Breath", which became another top-twenty hit.

Christmas Albums and New Adventures

Clarkson performing at the 12th Annual Honda Civic Tour in August 2013.

In January 2013, Kelly sang "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at the second inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama. Her performance was highly praised. Kelly's sixth album and first Christmas record, Wrapped in Red, was released in October 2013. She co-wrote five new songs and sang eleven classic Christmas songs. The album was a big hit and became the best-selling holiday album of the year. Its main song, "Underneath the Tree", was a number one hit on adult contemporary radio.

In February 2015, Kelly released Piece by Piece, her seventh album. This album had an electropop and dance sound. It became her third album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The first song, "Heartbeat Song", was a top-ten hit in the UK. The song "Piece by Piece" also became a top-ten hit in the U.S. after Kelly's emotional performance of it on American Idol.

Children's Books and The Voice Coach

In 2016, Kelly announced she would write children's books. Her first book, River Rose and the Magical Lullaby, came out in October 2016. It included a lullaby written and sung by Kelly. A second book, River Rose and the Magical Christmas, was released in 2017.

Clarkson performing at the 2018 DoD Warrior Games Opening Ceremony.

In 2017, Kelly announced she would join The Voice as a coach. She quickly became a fan favorite. Her first album with Atlantic Records, Meaning of Life, was released in October 2017. It had a soulful sound. The song "Love So Soft" was nominated for a Grammy Award. Kelly also voiced a character in the animated film The Star in 2017.

Kelly hosted the 2018 Billboard Music Awards. In her first season on The Voice, her contestant Brynn Cartelli won, giving Kelly her first victory. The next season, her contestant Chevel Shepherd also won, making Kelly the first female coach to win two seasons in a row.

Talk Show Host and More Music

In 2019, Kelly hosted the 2019 Billboard Music Awards again. She also voiced Moxy in the animated musical film UglyDolls. She released the song "Broken & Beautiful" from the movie's soundtrack. On September 9, 2019, Kelly started hosting her own daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show. The show quickly became popular. In December 2019, her contestant Jake Hoot won The Voice, giving Kelly her third win as a coach.

In 2020, Kelly released the song "I Dare You". She sang it in English and also recorded duets in five other languages. The Kelly Clarkson Show won several awards, including Kelly winning for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host. In 2021, Kelly won two more Daytime Emmy Awards for her talk show.

On September 23, 2021, Kelly released "Christmas Isn't Canceled (Just You)", the first song from her second Christmas album, When Christmas Comes Around.... The album was released in October 2021. In December 2021, the group Girl Named Tom won The Voice, giving Kelly her fourth victory as a coach. In February 2022, Kelly co-hosted the singing competition series American Song Contest with Snoop Dogg.

Clarkson with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in 2021.

In June 2022, Kelly won two more Daytime Emmy Awards for her talk show. She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 19, 2022.

Recent Projects: Chemistry and Future Plans

Kelly hosted the 12th Annual NFL Honors in February 2023. She returned as a coach for the twenty-third season of The Voice in 2023.

On March 26, 2023, she announced her tenth studio album, Chemistry, which was released on June 23, 2023. The main songs from the album, "Mine" and "Me", were released in April 2023. Kelly also announced a special Las Vegas concert series called Chemistry: An Intimate Evening with Kelly Clarkson. In October 2023, The Kelly Clarkson Show moved its production from Los Angeles to New York City. In November 2023, Kelly launched her own Sirius XM radio channel, Kelly Clarkson Connection. This channel plays her music, songs she loves, and music from artists who inspire her. Kelly also shares stories about her own music.

In December 2023 and June 2024, Kelly won more Daytime Emmy Awards for her talk show. In April 2024, she sang a duet with James Arthur called "From the Jump". She also sang on Terri Clark's song "If I Were You". In September 2024, she released "You For Christmas", a new song from a special version of her When Christmas Comes Around... album. She will also host and perform at Christmas in Rockefeller Center again in December 2024.

In January 2025, Kelly shared on her talk show that she has started her own record label. This means she will release her own music independently for the first time.

Artistry and Voice

Kelly Clarkson is known for her amazing voice. She can sing very high notes and has a wide vocal range. Producers who have worked with her say she has "powerful lungs." Simon Cowell, who was a judge on American Idol, said Kelly has the best voice of all the American Idol winners. Esquire magazine even wrote that Kelly has "the best voice in the history of pop music." Kelly is also called the "Queen of Covers" because she can sing songs from many different artists and music styles.

Influences

Soul singer Aretha Franklin was a major influence on Clarkson.

When Kelly was eight years old, she was inspired to get into music after visiting an African-American church. She said she wanted to feel the same emotions she heard in the music. Kelly has been influenced by many different musicians. She says soul singer Aretha Franklin is her biggest influence. She sang many Aretha Franklin songs on American Idol. Other soul singers who influenced her include Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Etta James. Kelly was also influenced by rock bands like Radiohead and Aerosmith, as well as country singer Reba McEntire.

Kelly explained that her family listened to many different types of music. Her stepfather liked Willie Nelson and Elvis Presley. Her father liked soulful singers like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Her mom liked adult contemporary singers like Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand. Her older brother introduced her to rock bands like Guns N' Roses and Metallica. All these different styles helped shape her music.

Impact and Legacy

Kelly Clarkson has achieved over 100 number one hits on the Billboard charts. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has sold millions of albums and songs worldwide. Kelly was the first artist to reach number one on Billboard's pop, adult contemporary, country, and dance charts. VH1 ranked her among the "100 Greatest Women in Music."

Many people in the music industry believe Kelly Clarkson helped make TV talent shows like American Idol important. The Washington Post said that Kelly's powerful voice showed that these reality show contestants should be taken seriously. Her first two albums sold millions of copies. Newsday said Kelly "set the standard" for all singing competition contestants because she mixes pop, rock, and country music so well.

Kelly Clarkson has also inspired many other artists. These include Vanessa Hudgens, Demi Lovato, Jordin Sparks, and country singers like Kelsea Ballerini.

Personal Life

In February 2012, Kelly started dating Brandon Blackstock. He was the son of her former manager. Kelly and Brandon got married on October 20, 2013. They have two children together, a daughter born in 2014 and a son born in 2016. In June 2020, Kelly filed for divorce from Brandon. Their divorce was finalized in March 2022.

In February 2022, Kelly changed her legal name to Kelly Brianne. She said this change was for her personal life, but she would still be known as Kelly Clarkson in public. She explained that she changed her name because of a difficult relationship with her late father.

Helping Others

Clarkson performing at the 2007 Live Earth charity concert.

Kelly Clarkson is very involved in helping others. In April 2007, she took part in "Idol Gives Back", a fundraiser for people in need. She also performed at the Live Earth concerts to raise awareness about climate change.

She has been an ambassador for the March of Dimes since her time on American Idol. She helps raise money and volunteers to improve the health of mothers and babies. Kelly also supports "Houses of Hope," an organization that builds orphanages for children in South Africa affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty. She has visited these children and performed at fundraisers for them. Kelly also supports charities like Save the Children, UNICEF, and "STOMP Out Bullying."

Kelly used to have a ranch in Texas where she took care of unwanted animals. These included goats with missing limbs, blind dogs, and horses. She helped them get veterinary care and found them new homes. In 2013, Kelly supported the Opportunity Education Foundation, which helps children around the world get access to education. She also worked with State Farm Insurance to promote safe driving for teens. Kelly has also supported Feeding America to help children facing hunger.

Discography

Studio albums

• Thankful (2003)
• Breakaway (2004)
• My December (2007)
• All I Ever Wanted (2009)
• Stronger (2011)
• Wrapped in Red (2013)
• Piece by Piece (2015)
• Meaning of Life (2017)
• When Christmas Comes Around... (2021)
• Chemistry (2023)

Tours and Residencies

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Kelly Clarkson at the Women's World Awards 2009 in Vienna in Austria.

See also

In Spanish: Kelly Clarkson para niños

• List of artists who reached number one on the Australian singles chart
• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
• List of Idols winners