Kelly Clarkson won American Idol on September 4, 2002. She was the first American Idol winner in history.
With the end of the first American Idol coming to an end, the contest came down to Clarkson and Justin Guarini, another contestant. Kelly's victory caused her to cheer, applaud, and cry, so much so that even the runner-up and audience members started to cry. She performed her first single, "A Moment Like This," after winning. She cried, squealed, and apologized for her emotional state throughout the performance. She was joined on stage by previous contestants as the audience rose to their feet. As she sobbed, they provided backing vocals and assisted her in finishing the song.
Clarkson will be remembered as an American Idol legend. She currently serves as a judge for The Voice, another singing contest. She has so far helped three winners on that show triumph. She has returned to the American Idol stage as a guest performer since her time on the show. She is now the only show winner to have a song selection week named after her.
For aspiring competitors, she has grown to be an inspiration. The pop/rock sensation has over 25 million album sales, three Grammy awards, and her own talk show. She was once a young contestant who yearned to be a star, like other successful contestants. She told the cameras during her audition, "I want to be on American Idol because I like to perform."
Who is Kelly Clarkson?
Kelly Brianne, also known as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, author, and television personality who was born on April 24, 1982. She gained notoriety in 2002 when she won the inaugural season of American Idol and signed a record deal with RCA. The best-selling single in the nation in 2002 was her debut single, "A Moment Like This," which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
It was a part of her first studio album, "Thankful," which came out in 2003 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Clarkson left American Idol management for her second studio album, "Breakaway" (2004), in an effort to change her image. Breakaway sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and won two Grammy Awards. It was supported by three US top-ten singles, "Since U Been Gone," "Behind These Hazel Eyes," and "Because of You."
Over 25 million albums and 45 million singles by Clarkson have been sold worldwide. She has nine top-ten singles in the UK, Canada, and Australia in addition to her eleven top-ten singles in the US.
She made history by becoming the first performer to ever top the pop, adult contemporary, adult pop, country, and dance charts on Billboard. Between the fourteenth and twenty-first seasons of The Voice, as well as the twenty-third season, Clarkson worked as a coach.
What notable awards has Kelly Clarkson received?
Among Kelly’s many honors, Clarkson has been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, three MTV Video Music Awards, four American Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards, five Daytime Emmy Awards, and three Grammy Awards.
While VH1 ranked Clarkson nineteenth on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music, Billboard praised her as "one of pop music's greatest singers" and presented her with the Powerhouse Award.
How was Kelly Clarkson’s American Idol journey?
A 20-year-old Kelly, auditioned for the show wearing homemade denim clothing. If her singing career didn't succeed, she declared that she would become a fashion designer. To compete in the next round, the Texas native traveled to Hollywood. Randy Jackson, a wealthy pop culture icon and former judge, impersonated a contestant by singing a line from R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly."
After the laughter subsided, Randy, Paula, and Simon approved of her cover of Madonna's "Express Yourself," but only if she instructed Ryan Seacrest to redo his highlights. She screamed with a level of excitement that was unique to the early 2000s. Screaming, "Score!" She did instruct Seacrest to straighten his hair.
Kelly sang hits by Aretha Franklin, Betty Hutton, and others during her time on the show's first season, including "Respect" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman." She stunned audiences by singing the Aretha Franklin classic in a whistle tone that seemed to reach the sky.
When her performance was over, a fan ran on stage and presented her with a rose while shouting "I love her!" into the cameras. She was praised for being amazing, phenomenal, and a great singer by all three of the highly compensated American Idol judges. She received enough votes in each round to be deemed safe. She competed and won the reality television show American Idol.
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