Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, and occasional actress. She rose to fame in 2002 after winning the first season of American Idol. Her debut single, "Before Your Love"/"A Moment Like This," topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was the best-selling single of 2002 in the United States. Clarkson's debut album, Thankful (2003), debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was certified double platinum by the RIAA, selling over 4.5 million copies worldwide. Her second album, Breakaway (2004), sold over 15 million copies and earned her two Grammy Awards. Her third album, My December (2007), saw her take creative control as executive producer and co-writer but faced limited promotion due to conflicts with her label.
Clarkson's fourth album, All I Ever Wanted (2009), debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with its lead single setting a record for the biggest jump to number one on the Hot 100. Her fifth album, Stronger (2011), won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album and featured her third number-one Hot 100 song. Her sixth album, Wrapped in Red (2013), was the best-selling holiday album of the year. Her seventh album, Piece by Piece (2015), also debuted at No. 1. Clarkson has acted in film and television, including the 2003 musical From Justin to Kelly. She is known for vocal versatility and themes of heartbreak, independence, and self-empowerment. Her career includes three Grammy Awards, multiple other major music awards, over 25 million albums sold, and 100 Billboard number-one hits. In 2012, VH1 ranked her nineteenth on the "100 Greatest Women in Music," and Billboard named her the 14th-best-selling artist of the 2000s.
United States
