Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, and occasional actress. In 2002, she came to prominence after winning the first season of American Idol, and has since been established as "The Original American Idol". Her debut single "A Moment Like This" topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and broke the record for the biggest jump to number one in the chart's history; it became the best-selling single of the year in the country. She became the runner-up of World Idol the following year.
Clarkson's debut studio album Thankful (2003) has been certified 2x platinum and sold over 4.5 million copies internationally. Its lead single "Miss Independent" became an international hit, earning Clarkson her first Grammy nomination. She developed a rock-oriented sound with her second album Breakaway (2004). It was certified 6x platinum and sold over 12 million copies worldwide, earning Clarkson two Grammy Awards, including one for the hit single "Since U Been Gone". She took full creative direction of her third album My December (2007). Its lead single "Never Again" became a top ten hit. Clarkson's fourth album All I Ever Wanted (2009) became a critical and commercial success. Its worldwide hit single, "My Life Would Suck Without You", surpassed "A Moment Like This" for the biggest leap to number one on a single week in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart from number 97, a record it still holds today. Her fifth album Stronger (2011) generated international chart-topping singles "Mr. Know It All" and "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", with the latter being the second-best selling American Idol single to date with over four million downloads in the U.S. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album, making Clarkson the first and only artist to win the award twice. In 2012, Clarkson released Greatest Hits: Chapter One. The lead single "Catch My Breath" is her twenty-fourth entry on the Hot 100 and her eleventh million-selling single.
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