Kelly Clarkson Pictures

Singer, songwriter. Born Kelly Brianne Clarkson on April 24, 1982 in Burleson, Texas. Clarkson graduated from Burleson High School in 2000, where she sang in the school choir. After graduation, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a music career.

Supporting herself with numerous odd jobs, Clarkson made a few television appearances and eventually landed a job working as a female vocalist with songwriter Gerry Goffin. Unfortunately, a bout of bad luck discouraged her and she returned to Texas shortly thereafter. In 2002, a friend told her about a new talent search show on Fox called American Idol, and Clarkson became one of 10,000 contestants.

After grueling rounds of televised eliminations, and critical evaluations by judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, Clarkson prevailed against Justin Guarini to become the first winner of the hit contest on September 4, 2002. Her official prize was a million-dollar RCA record contract; the unofficial prize a considerable amount of fame and notoriety.

The following month, her first single, "A Moment Like This," went from No. 52 to No. 1 on the Billboard charts. In 2003, she made her feature film debut in the forgettable From Justin to Kelly. Fortunately, her first album fared much better than her movie. Thankful was a hit based in part because of the smash single, "Miss Independent." And Clarkson went on to establish herself as a leading rock performer with her second album, Breakaway (2004). The album spawned several big hits, including Since U Been Gone, Breakaway, Behind These Hazel Eyes, and Walk Away. It also earned Clarkson two Grammy Awards in 2005: one for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Since U Been Gone and another for Best Pop Vocal Albuman award she shared with producer Clive Davis and engineer/mixer Serban Ghenea.