- Originally wanted to be a marine biologist but changed her mind when she saw the movie Jaws (1975).
- Avril Lavigne co-wrote her new single "Breakaway" which is on the soundtrack for The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004).
- Christina Aguilera co-wrote her hit single "Miss Independent".
- Was offered scholarships to three universities but decided to pursue a music career.
- Kelly stayed up all night before her American Idol (2002) audition so she would not sleep through the alarm, which she frequently did in high school.
- Won the first season of American Idol (2002) on 4 September 2002.
- Has twice broken the Billboard Hot 100 record for a song's biggest leap to #1. First with "A Moment Like This" in 2002 (52-1) and with "My Life Would Suck Without You" in 2009 (97-1).
- Has two children: daughter, River Rose Blackstock (b. June 12, 2014) and son, Remington Alexander "Remy" Blackstock (b. April 12, 2016) with ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.
- Performed "Ave Maria" for Pope Benedict XVI on April 19, 2008. This took place at St. Joseph's Seminary, Yonkers, New York.
- Her soul-mate is her puppy Joplin, a black poodle mix she adopted in 2011.
- Her music video for "Because of You" debuted at #1 on TRL. The only other artists to achieve this goal are Britney Spears, Eminem and *NSYNC.
- Had jobs as a teenager and determined that once she started making money as a musician, she never wanted to have to take a job for the money. Working with her business manager, she said she has financially set herself up for life.
- Her first single, "A Moment Like This", set records by jumping from number 52 to the number 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Has two stepchildren: stepdaughter, Savannah Blackstock (b. June 7, 2002) and stepson, Seth Blackstock (b. November 26, 2006) with ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.
- Engaged to Blake Shelton's manager, Brandon Blackstock, son of her manager, Narvel Blackstock, and stepson of Reba McEntire [December 14, 2012].
- Underwent LASIK eye surgery to correct her vision.
- As of July 2005, she is the top-selling American Idol (2002) contestant, having sold approximately five million albums in the United States and having had five Top 10 singles.
- (October 20, 2013) Married her boyfriend of 20 months Brandon Blackstock at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee, following a 10-month-long engagement.
- Returned to work three months after giving birth to her daughter River to begin recording her fifth studio album.
- Won the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Since U Been Gone") and Best Pop Vocal Album ("Breakaway") at the Grammy Awards on February 8, 2006. Kelly also performed "Because of You" at the ceremony and received a standing ovation.
- Announced she was filing for divorce from Brandon Blackstock on June 11, 2020.
- Her first single sold nearly 250,000 copies in its first week.
- Sang the National Anthem at The Day of Service in Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2002.
- Came in second place in World Idol (2003).
- Said in a Reader's Digest interview that as a toddler, she would often walk around naked and that, to this day, hates wearing clothes. Calls wardrobe fittings "the death of me".
- Was a cocktail waitress at a comedy club in Arlington, Texas and at Hyena's Comedy Club in Downtown Fort Worth, Texas.
- Has two siblings: Jason Clarkson (born 1973) and Alyssa Clarkson (born 1976).
- (May 2, 2019) Hours after hosting the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas for the second consecutive year, Clarkson underwent surgery to get her appendix removed. She had "broken down in tears after the show from pain" and immediately flew back home once the awards show wrapped. Clarkson had the surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and is now "feeling awesome" as she recovers.
- Attended and graduated from Burleson High School, Burleson, Texas (2000).
- Ranked #50 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement.
- One of her maternal great-grandfathers, Harry George, was a Greek immigrant. Her other ancestry includes English, German, Irish and Scottish.
- Fired her manager, Jeff Kwatinetz, in summer 2007.
- Used to work at Hollywood Theatres in Burleson, Texas. Used to work at a bookstore and at a zoo.
- Her sophomore album, "Breakaway" (2004), debuted at number three.
- Ranked #92 in FHM magazine's 100 Sexiest Women in the World (2005).
- Her debut album, "Thankful" (2003), has sold more than 2.5 million copies in the United States. Her sophomore album, "Breakaway" (2004), has sold more than 6.2 million copies in the United States, with almost 25 million in sales worldwide.
- Became the first artist to have two songs in the top 3 of Billboard's Pop Airplay 100 chart, with "Since U Been Gone" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes".
- Is the only American Idol (2002) winner to hold the title less than a year. This is because season one aired in June and the show began again the next spring.
- Her music video for "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" placed #4 on VH1's Top 20 Videos of 2012.
- Parents, Jeanne Clarkson and Joseph Clarkson, divorced when she was six.
- Beat out more than 10,000 people to land a $1 million recording contract on American Idol (2002).
- Estranged daughter-in-law of Narvel Blackstock, and estranged stepdaughter-in-law of Reba McEntire.
- Returned to work two months after giving birth to her son Remington to begin recording her sixth studio album.
- Ranked #92 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement.
- Is the first artist in the Billboard Radio Monitor era to hold the No. 1 spot at Mainstream Top 40 and AC during the same week with two different songs (Breakaway and Since U Been Gone).
- Accepted two Grammy Awards: the award for Pop Female Vocal for "Since U Been Gone" and her album has been awarded Best Pop Album.
- Her music video for "My Life Would Suck Without You" placed #6 on VH1's Top 40 Videos of 2009.
- Her debut album, "Thankful" (2003), went double platinum.
- Her music video for "I Do Not Hook Up" placed #25 on VH1's Top 40 Videos of 2009.
- Performed "Everybody's Got Their Something" at the 2010 'America Celebrates the Fourth of July' at the Ford Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content