The First The American Idol Kelly Clarkson

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Author: Dean Erickson

The First The American Idol Kelly Clarkson

By Dean Erickson 

There is a lot more to the story that meets the eye, at least, where Kelly Clarkson, the American Idol, is concerned. Her rise to the top of the charts was not an easy one and any struggling singer-wannabe can probably identify with the grit and determination this young pop singer has shown.

Kelly Clarkson was born Kelly Brianne Clarkson April 24th 1982 in the small town, Burleson in Texas. Despite her very obvious talent on stage, her first ambition as a child was to become a marine biologist but watching the show "Jaws" scared her off her career. With her dreams dashed, she was clearly open to suggestions and when a teacher in her school, Pauline Hughes, heard Kelly Clarkson's rich voice, she was encouraged to join the school choir. And from there, Kelly Clarkson is smitten with singing. Kelly Clarkson soon upgraded her singing portfolio when she was included in the Texas All-State Choir.

Even with a voice like hers, she still failed to sell herself to record labels and having no luck at home, the far-sighted Kelly Clarkson saved up enough money from odd jobs as a pharmacy assistant, telemarketer, waitress and assistants in a movie theatre and the zoo, she managed to send herself to California.

In the land of Movie Stars, she landed herself as an extra in the popular TV series "Sabrina" and found herself working with the famous songwriter, Gerry Goffin. Apart from these minor roles, a record deal was not forthcoming. With Mr. Goffin falling ill, her roommate moving out and her apartment burning down, Kelly Clarkson packed her stuff and headed on back home.

Although Kelly Clarkson found a STABLE job as a promoter for Red Bull to help pay the bills, she has not given up on her dream. And when a friend told her that there was going to be a singing contest where the public gets to vote on the winner, she gave it a shot. Kelly Clarkson didn't have high expectations for this contest; with the memory of her failure to get a record deal still fresh in her mind. PLUS she was going to be pitching against 10,000 other talented Americans.

But what a surprise it was for Kelly Clarkson when her rendition of Aretha Franklin's "Respect" floored the judges. And it was only at that point in time that she realized that she really DID want to win! Feeling revitalized and motivated again, her rendition of Franklin's "You make me feel like a natural woman" won even the praise of the most notorious American Idol judge, Simon Cowell.

Her first single, "A Moment Like This", was released October 2002 and it jumped straight from No. 52 to No. 1 on the Billboard starts, creating history! The jump was noticeably bigger than the jump that the Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love". "Can't Buy Me Love" only jumped from No.27 to No.1. Kelly Clarkson is now known around the world as the first ever American Idol who has her own brand of down-to-earth charm and a sense of humor to match. People can relate to Kelly Clarkson because we have watched her rise from a 'nobody' to the 'somebody' that she is today.

We know it's hard to tell when it comes to the staying power of pop stars but with Kelly Clarkson, we believe that she may be here to stay….