Kelly Brianne (born April 24, 1982), known professionally as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, author, and television personality. 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.

Her first album, Thankful included the top ten single “Miss Independent”, which earned her first Grammy nomination. Her second album Breakaway produced the hit single “Since U Been Gone” which reached number two on the Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA.

Clarkson went in a different direction with her self-creatively-controlled third album, My December. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and produced the top-ten single “Never Again”.

Her fourth album, All I Ever Wanted debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The lead single “My Life Would Suck Without You” re-broke the record for biggest jump to number one on the Hot 100, jumping 97-1 in its second week on the chart. The record still stands today.

Fifth album Stronger produced the top-ten “Mr. Know It All” and her third number one, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”. Later, she released her greatest hits album, producing the top-twenty single “Catch My Breath”. Her holiday album, Wrapped in Red became the highest-selling holiday album of 2013, which made Clarkson the first female to accomplish a feat.

Her sixth album, Piece by Piece, was released on March 3, 2015. The album’s lead single “Heartbeat Song” was released on January 12, 2015, and has peaked at 21 on the Hot 100.

On October 27, 2017, Clarkson released her soul-influenced eighth album, Meaning of Life. Three singles were released to promote the album: “Love So Soft”, “I Don’t Think About You”, and “Heat”, the first and last of which topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. At the 60th and 61st Grammy Awards, the album received two nominations: for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Love So Soft.” Her ninth studio album & second Christmas album, When Christmas Comes Around… was released on October 15, 2021.

Kellyoke, an extended with six cover songs that Clarkson performed during her “Kellyoke” segment on her talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, was released on June 9, 2022.