Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Brianne Clarkson is best known as the winner of the first season of American Idol. After the show, Clarkson became successful as an artist in her own right, establishing a pop/rock style with songs like Since U Been Gone and Because Of You.

Clarkson was born on 24 April 1982 in Fort Worth, Texas and was brought up in the suburb of Burleston. Her father is Stephen Michael Clarkson and her mother is Jeanne Rose. She has an older brother (Jason) and sister (Alyssa). Clarkson's parents divorced when she was 6 years old after seventeen years of marriage.

American Idol

In 2002, Clarkson auditioned for and eventually won the first ever season of American Idol. Her winning single was A Moment Like This, which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 2002.

She was praised by judge Simon Cowell as having the best voice in that year's competition.

As a Recording Artist

Clarkson has released three studio albums to date - Thankful (2003), Breakaway (2004) and My December (2007). A fourth album, All I Ever Wanted is due to be released on 10 March 2009.

The albums have spawned a number of hit singles, such as Miss Independent, Since U Been Gone and Breakaway. She has had two American #1 singles: once with A Moment Like This and again with her 2009 single, My Life Would Suck Without You.