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February 2012
Kelly Clarkson
Born in Fort Worth Texas, Clarkson wasn't one of those girls who was trotted out in beauty pageants and dolled up in tutus, taking ballet at an early age. Her childhood was no fairytale—there were financial struggles and her parents divorced when Kelly was only 6. But Clarkson wasn't one of those kids who sits around feeling sorry for herself. When she was in seventh grade, a teacher heard her singing in a hallway and asked her to try out for the school choir, and the performing never stopped from then on. From high school productions of Annie Get Your Gun and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers to classical training as a singer, Clarkson hopped on and stayed on one road: the path to singing stardom.
And 10 years after becoming a household name on Idol—and remaining one thanks to a continuous string of hits—she's all grown up and doing things her way. At 29, Clarkson isn't afraid to speak her mind, regardless of what her adoring public may think. She remains true to herself in every way.
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There have been regular flashes of her self-assuredness and non-conformity in the press along the way—to wit, the Self magazine cover on which she appeared in 2009. The image of Clarkson in a purple silk chemise showed the singer sporting a slimmer physique than most were accustomed to seeing on her. Self editor Lucy Danziger was taken to task in the press and forced to issue a statement on the magazine's retouching policies, but Clarkson, for her part, was unfazed. "When people talk about my weight, I'm like, 'You seem to have a problem with it. I don't. I'm fine!" she said. "My happy weight changes—sometimes I eat more, sometimes I play more." And Clarkson was quick to point out that when she does get down at the gym, she does it for herself, not in response to the critics who have something to say about her figure. "I do it totally for my psyche," she stated. "I'm much better when those endorphins are going. It's a release. And I also love food, so there's a payoff."
Most recently, she made waves when she endorsed Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, saying on her Twitter page: "I love Ron Paul. I liked him a lot during the last Republican nomination and no one gave him a chance. If he wins the nomination for the Republican Party in 2012, he's got my vote. Too bad he probably won't." The response was twofold: negative backlash came in the form of fans maligning her for endorsing him because of claims he's made numerous racist and homophobic statements over the last 20 years—but positive response came in the form of a 600 percent jump in sales of her latest CD, Stronger. The new album jumped 30 spots on the charts over the course of only a few days.
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Then again, perhaps the most logical explanation for the jump in sales is the fact that this girl can belt a tune. In her ten-year career since winning Idol, she's become the most successful contestant worldwide, with two Grammy Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, four American Music Awards and a Women's World Award to her credit. Billboard magazine also ranked her the #14 artist of the 2000s. She's released five CDs—Thankful (2003), Breakaway (2004), My December (2007), All I Ever Wanted (2009) and the current Stronger (2011), the latter of which she's on tour promoting this year. Esquire magazine has gone so far as to say the Clarkson has "the best voice in the history of pop music." When Clarkson performed at the most recent Y-100 Jingle Ball at BankAtlantic Center with a group of greats that included Pitbull, Flo Rida, LMFAO, and David Guetta, she was recognized in the media as "undeniably great," one of the main standouts. And this month, she returns to South Florida for a concert on February 16 at Hard Rock Live at the The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Her two live appearances in South Florida speak to the sort of rambunctious, speak-your-mind, let-loose brand of rock 'n roll we fancy in these parts. She fits right in here, and it calls to mind a remark she once made to an audience that couldn't be more applicable anywhere else: "Everyone says I'm like the girl next door," Clarkson said. "Y'all must have really weird neighbors."
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