Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born 24 April 1982) is an American singer who rose to fame on the U.S. television program American Idol.
Born in the town of Fort Worth, Texas, then later moved to Burleson, Texas. Kelly Clarkson as a child aspired to be a marine biologist before the movie Jaws dissuaded her. In middle school, Clarkson was overheard singing in a school corridor by a teacher who invited her to join the school choir. Her participation in choral and musical activities spurred her interest in a recording career, and, following her high school graduation, Kelly relocated to Los Angeles, California.
Clarkson landed a job as a television extra in Los Angeles (one appearance was an extra in Sabrina the Teenage Witch and worked briefly with songwriter Gerry Goffin. However, after her L.A. apartment burned down, she moved back to Texas, discouraged, but still intent on a career in showbusiness.
Clarkson managed some odd jobs before her run on American Idol. She worked as a cocktail waitress, a promo girl for Red Bull, worked at a movie theatre in which she held her premiere for From Justin to Kelly, a pharmacy, Chili's, the Fort Worth Zoo, a telemarketer, sold Kirby vacuum cleaners door to door for a day, and other jobs as well. In 2002, along with 10,000 others, Clarkson auditioned for the aforementioned television show, American Idol. Impressed by her voice and personality, the panel of judges put her through to the next round. Upon landing a final 30 spot, Kelly garnered praise from the judges with her rendition of Aretha Franklin's Respect. She moved on to the final 10, receiving a #2 spot in her group of 10. On September 4, 2002 Clarkson won the competition, earning 58% of the audience vote in the final contest against Justin Guarini. She was the only contestant to have never landed in the bottom three. As the crowned American Idol, Clarkson performed a heartfelt and tearful "A Moment Like This" as confetti fell, her fellow contestants hugged her, and many watched in the Kodak Theatre and in their households.
Clarkson's first single set an American record, rising on October 5th, 2002 from No. 52 to No. 1 on the Billboard charts (a record previously held by The Beatles' Can't Buy Me Love). Her first full-length album, Thankful, was released on April 15, 2003. Thankful has now gone double platinum and is continuing to sell more each day.
Kelly Clarkson starred with fellow American Idol contestant Justin Guarini in the 2003 box office flop From Justin to Kelly.
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Referenced By
2003 in music | 2004 Golden Raspberries | 24 April | 24th April | American Idle | American Idol | American Idol: The Search For A Superstar | April 24 | April 24th | Billboard Hot 100 | Burleson, Texas | From Justin to Kelly | Hot 100 | Justin Guarini | List Of All Music Videos By Year | List of music videos by year | List of people by name: Cl | Pop Idol | World Idol
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