Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson was born in Fort Worth, Texas and grew up in the small town of Burleson, a suburb of Forth Worth. She is the youngest child of Jeanne Anne Rose and stephen Michael Clarkson. While growing up, Clarkson's family had a hard time financially and often argued about money. From this... More

Kelly Clarkson was born in Fort Worth, Texas and grew up in the small town of Burleson, a suburb of Forth Worth. She is the youngest child of Jeanne Anne Rose and stephen Michael Clarkson. While growing up, Clarkson's family had a hard time financially and often argued about money. From this experience, Clarkson learned to be financially responsible and independent at an early age. She experienced two sets of parental divorces, the first at age 6 and the second at age 19. Music became her refuge after the first divorce, but she didn't embrace it as her salvation until her teens, when Clarkson first decided to become a singer at 13 years old.

 

After high school graduation, Clarkson was offered full scholarships to the University of Texas, University of North Texas, and Berklee, but decided against college because she wanted to try releasing a CD. However upon working several jobs to finance her demo CD and recieving few responses, Clarkson moved to Hollywood to seek out other opportunities in music. While there, she appeared as an extra on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and That 80's Show among others. After four discouraging months in Hollywood, Clarkson moved back to Texas after her apartment burned down. Once Clarkson returned to Burleson, several of her friends encouraged her to audition for the 2002 debut of the American Idol.

Upon winning first place, Clarkson released her first album, Thank You. The single was released in OCtober 2002, setting a time record on the Billboard Hot 100 when it rose from number 52 to number 1. Also soon after winning American Idol, Clarkson starred with Idol runner-up Justin Guarini in the movie From Justin to Kelly. the film recieved poor reviews, grossing only $5 million. Clarkson's career also includes the role of spokeswoman for the acne treatment Proactive as well as vitaminwater, and she has partnered with NASCAR for the 2007 season.

Kelly Clarkson(7)