Kelly Clarkson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kelly Clarkson
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Clarkson at the DoD Warrior Games opening ceremony in June 2018
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| Born |
Kelly Brianne Clarkson
April 24, 1982 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
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| Other names | Kelly Brianne |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Brandon Blackstock
(m. 2013; div. 2022) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | |
| Signature | |
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Kelly Clarkson (born Kelly Brianne Clarkson on April 24, 1982) is a famous American singer, songwriter, and TV star. She first became famous when she won the very first season of the TV show American Idol in 2002. Since then, she has had a long career in music and television.
Kelly is known for her powerful voice and can sing many different styles of music. She has sold over 82 million records around the world. Some of her most famous songs include "Since U Been Gone", "Because of You", and "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)".
Besides singing, Kelly has been a coach on the TV show The Voice. She also hosts her own popular talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show. She has won many awards, including three Grammy Awards and eight Daytime Emmy Awards.
Early Life and Beginnings
Kelly Brianne Clarkson was born in Fort Worth, Texas. Her mother was a teacher and her father was an engineer. Her parents separated when she was six years old, and she lived with her mother. Kelly grew up in the town of Burleson, Texas.
In middle school, a teacher heard her singing in the hallway. The teacher was so impressed that she asked Kelly to join the school choir. This was the start of her musical journey. In high school, she performed in many musicals like Annie Get Your Gun.
After graduating, Kelly decided not to go to college right away. She wanted to start her music career on her own. She worked several jobs to save money to make a demo tape. A demo tape is a short recording of songs used to show a singer's talent to record companies.
In 2001, she moved to Los Angeles to follow her dream. It was difficult at first, and she had to move back home to Texas for a while.
Career
2002–2003: Winning American Idol
In 2002, Kelly's friends encouraged her to try out for a new TV show called American Idol. She did very well in the competition. On September 4, 2002, she was crowned the first-ever winner of American Idol.
Right after winning, she released her first single, "A Moment Like This". The song was a huge success. It jumped from number 52 to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was the biggest jump to number one in history at the time.
Her first album, Thankful, came out in 2003. It was a mix of pop, R&B, and gospel music. The album went to number one on the charts. Its lead single, "Miss Independent", became a hit around the world.
2004–2006: The Breakaway Era
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For her second album, Kelly wanted a new sound. She moved towards pop rock music with her album Breakaway, released in 2004. She co-wrote several of the songs on the album.
Breakaway was a massive success. It sold over 12 million copies worldwide and became one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century. The album had five hit singles. The most popular songs were "Since U Been Gone", "Behind These Hazel Eyes", and "Because of You". These songs made her a global superstar.
This album won her two Grammy Awards. One was for Best Pop Vocal Album and the other was for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Since U Been Gone".
2007–2011: New Sounds and More Hits
In 2007, Kelly released her third album, My December. This album had a darker, more rock-inspired sound. Kelly wrote or co-wrote every song. She wanted more creative control over her music. Her record label was worried the songs were not "pop" enough for the radio. This led to some disagreements, but Kelly stood by her work. The album's main single was "Never Again".
Her fourth album, All I Ever Wanted (2009), returned to a pop sound. The first single, "My Life Would ... Without You", went straight to number one.
In 2011, she released Stronger. The title track, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", became one of her biggest hits ever. It reached number one in many countries. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. This made her the first artist to win that award twice.
2012–2018: TV, Christmas Music, and The Voice
In 2012, Kelly released a greatest hits album. She also began to appear more on television. She was a mentor on The Voice and a judge on the show Duets.
Her first Christmas album, Wrapped in Red, came out in 2013. It was the best-selling holiday album of the year. The song "Underneath the Tree" became a modern Christmas classic.
In 2015, she released the album Piece by Piece. She gave a very emotional performance of the title song on American Idol. The performance was so popular that the song became a top ten hit.
In 2018, Kelly became a full-time coach on The Voice. She was very successful, and the singers on her team won many times.
2019–Present: Talk Show Host and New Music
In 2019, Kelly started hosting her own daytime TV talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show. The show became very popular. One of its famous parts is a segment called "Kellyoke," where she sings a cover of a different song in every episode. The show has won many Daytime Emmy Awards.
She released another Christmas album, When Christmas Comes Around..., in 2021. In 2023, her tenth studio album, Chemistry, was released. The album is about the good and bad parts of a relationship.
In January 2025, Clarkson announced she had started her own record label. This allows her to release her own music independently. She released a new single, "Where Have You Been", in May 2025.
Artistry
Voice and Music Style
Kelly Clarkson is known for her powerful and flexible soprano voice. Critics have praised her ability to sing high notes with ease and put a lot of emotion into her songs. She can sing many different genres, including pop, rock, R&B, soul, and country.
Many people call her the "Queen of Covers" because she can sing songs by other artists so well.
Songwriting
Kelly often co-writes her own songs. She has said that she needs to feel a personal connection to a song to write it. Many of her songs are based on her own life experiences. She believes this makes her music more honest. Some of her most personal songs include "Because of You" and "Piece by Piece".
Personal Life
In 2012, Kelly started dating Brandon Blackstock. They got married in 2013. Together, they have a daughter, River Rose, and a son, Remington Alexander. Kelly and Brandon's marriage ended in 2022.
In 2022, she legally changed her name to Kelly Brianne for her personal life. She said this was because of her difficult relationship with her father, who passed away. However, she still uses Kelly Clarkson as her professional name.
Charity Work
Kelly Clarkson supports many charities. She has worked with the March of Dimes, an organization that helps mothers and babies. She also supports groups that build homes for orphans in South Africa.
She once had a ranch in Texas for unwanted animals, including goats and dogs. She helped take care of them and find them new homes. Kelly often uses her fame to bring attention to good causes and help others.
Discography
- 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)
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
