Kelly Clarkson
Aug 29, 2011
After winning the first ever American Idol competition back in 2002 Kelly Clarkson has had a long, successful career with no plans of it ending soon.
In 2003, Clarkson released her debut album, Thankful which was a commercial success and established herself in the pop music industry. The release of its first single, "A Moment Like This" (2002), broke The Beatles' record for the biggest leap to number one, from 52, in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. After parting ways with her management, Clarkson developed a more rock-oriented music with the release of her critically acclaimed sophomore album, Breakaway (2004), which had sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and which garnered Clarkson more worldwide success as a pop rock artist. The album's single, "Because of You" (2005), became the best-selling single by an Idol contestant worldwide.
In 2007, Clarkson took full creative control for her third with a more rock inspired, My December, which was met with controversy and mild success. Clarkson later returned to a more pop-oriented sound with All I Ever Wanted (2009), which became a commercial and critical success which has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide. The album's lead single, "My Life Would Suck Without You" (2009), currently holds the record for biggest leap to number 1 on Billboard Hot 100 Chart, and earning her first number 1 single in the UK.
In a career spanning almost a decade, Clarkson has sold over 23 million albums and 36 million singles around the world, gaining her the recognition as the most successful Idol contestant worldwide, according to Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan. Clarkson's work also gained her numerous accolades, including two Grammy Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, and a Women's World Award. Billboard also ranked Clarkson the #14 artist of the 2000-10 decade, as well as being also ranked on the top 200 album sellers of the Nielsen SoundScan era at number 187.
Clarkson is back and set to release her fifth studio album, Stronger, on October 25, 2011. The first single off the new album, "Mr. Know It All", will be premiered via live webcast on Kelly's official website on August 30, 2011; the song will be available on iTunes on September 5, 2011.
